University of Western Australia
Two UWA Publishing titles have been longlisted for the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award.
“It excites me to think about what this will mean for ethnic communities and diverse stories in Australia.”
Kgshak Akec, author of Hopeless Kingdom.
Hopeless Kingdom by Kgshak Akec and Madukka The River Serpent by Julie Janson were today announced as two of 11 books on the longlist for the annual literary prize.
The prize is awarded to an Australian novel of the highest literary merit that presents Australian life in any of its phases.
Hopeless Kingdom written by Sudanese-Australian debut author Akec is inspired by her own experience of migration from Africa to Australia and was awarded the Dorothy Hewett Award in 2021.
Image: Kgshak Akec, author of Hopeless Kingdom. Photo by Ashot Valentino.
“I'm absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to have Hopeless Kingdom longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award,” Akec said.
“It excites me to think about what this will mean for ethnic communities and diverse stories in Australia.”
“The issues that resonate in this novel are saving Australian rivers and restorative justice for Aboriginal people.”
Julie Janson, author of Madukka The River Serpent.
Madukka The River Serpent written by Janson, an acclaimed playwright, novelist and Burruberongal Darug Aboriginal woman, is a striking novel about family, water rights, racism and resistance.
Image: Julie Janson, author of Madukka The River Serpent. Photo by Sam MacAdam-Cooper
“I am very grateful to have Madukka the River Serpent longlisted for the award,” Janson said.
“The issues that resonate in this novel are saving Australian rivers and restorative justice for Aboriginal people.”
In 2017, UWA Publishing’s Extinctions, by Josephine Wilson, was the winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
The winner is awarded $60,000 by Perpetual Philanthropic Services, the trustee of the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
The shortlisted finalists will be revealed on 20 June and the winner announced on 25 July 2023.
UWA Publishing thanks the Miles Franklin Literary Award judges and sends their warmest congratulations to Kgshak Akec and Julie Janson on their well-deserved longlisting - both titles are available to purchase directly from UWA Publishing.