Andrew McGahan
Encyclopedia
Andrew McGahan is a bestselling Australian novelist, best known for his cult first novel Praise, and for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel The White Earth
.
In 1991 McGahan won the Australian/Vogel Literary Award for unpublished novels with Praise — a semi-autobiographical account of a doomed, drug- and alcohol-fuelled relationship. It became an Australian bestseller, and is often credited with launching the short-lived Grunge Lit
or Dirty Realism movement – terminology that McGahan himself (along with most of the writers to whom it was applied) rejected.
In 1995 McGahan followed up with 1988, a prequel to Praise, partially based on time the author spent working at a lighthouse in the Northern Territory during Australia’s bicentennial year.
In 2000, having by his own admission struggled to come up with a third novel, McGahan produced his first work of non-autobiographical fiction: the crime novel Last Drinks
, a reflection upon the endemic political corruption in Queensland in the 1980s, and the aftermath of the famous Fitzgerald Inquiry. It won a Ned Kelly award for crime writing.
In 2004 McGahan published what would become one of his most successful and respected novels – The White Earth
, an epic and gothic tale set in a fictionalised version of the wheat district in which he had grown up. It became another bestseller, and won a raft of literary awards, in particular the Miles Franklin
.
In 2006 came Underground, an absurdist
satire attacking the more extreme manifestations of the War on Terror in Australia. It was well received in some quarters, but not so well in others, causing conservative commentator Andrew Bolt
to declare McGahan an "unhinged propagandist".
In 2009 came Wonders of Godless World
, a somewhat surreal work entirely without dialogue or proper nouns and delving into such diverse topics as geology and weather and immortality and madness. It won the 2009 Aurealis Award for Science Fiction
.
In late 2011 McGahan will publish The Coming of the Whirlpool, which is the first book of a four volume YA fantasy series of seafaring adventure, entitled Ship Kings. The second volume, due in 2012, will be called The Voyage of the Unquiet Ice.
Other Writing.
Stage:
In 1992, while serving a residency at the Queensland Theatre Company, McGahan wrote the play Bait, which was first performed by Renegade Theatre Company in Brisbane in 1995, directed by Shaun Charles, and which won a Mathilda award that year. The play is set in a grim Social Security mailing room and concludes the "Gordon Trilogy" – finishing off the story of Gordon Buchanan that was begun in the novels Praise and 1988.
In 2009 McGahan co-wrote and co-directed with Shaun Charles a stage version of The White Earth for La Boite Theatre Company in Brisbane.
Both stageplays, Bait and The White Earth, have been published by Playlab Press.
Screen:
McGahan wrote the screenplay for the feature film adaptation of Praise, directed by John Curran and released in 1999. The film won multiple awards, including an AFI
to McGahan for the screenwriting.
Praise Screenplay – AFI for Best Adapted Screenplay; Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Adapted Screenplay; Queensland Premier’s Award, Best Drama Script.
Last Drinks – Ned Kelly Award for Crime Writing, Best First Novel.
The White Earth – Miles Franklin Award, Commonwealth Writers Prize South east Asia and South pacific Region, Age Book of the Year, Courier Mail Book of the Year.
Wonders of a Godless World - Aurealis Award, Best Science Fiction Novel.
The White Earth
The White Earth is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author Andrew McGahan.The stage version, adapted by McGahan and Shaun Charles, premiered at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre in February–March 2009.-Notes:...
.
Early life and education
Born in Dalby, Queensland, McGahan was the ninth of ten children and grew up on a wheat farm. His schooling was at St Columba’s and St Mary’s colleges in Dalby, and then Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane. He commenced an Arts degree at the University of Queensland, but dropped out halfway through, in 1985, to return to the family farm, and to commence his first novel – which was never published. He then spent the next few years working in a variety of jobs, until 1991, when he wrote his first published novel, Praise.Literary career
Novels.In 1991 McGahan won the Australian/Vogel Literary Award for unpublished novels with Praise — a semi-autobiographical account of a doomed, drug- and alcohol-fuelled relationship. It became an Australian bestseller, and is often credited with launching the short-lived Grunge Lit
Grunge Lit
Grunge Lit is an Australian literary genre usually applied to fictional or semi-autobiographical writing concerned with young people living in suburban or inner-city surroundings. The genre characterises itself by examining "gritty, dirty, real existences", where life revolves around a nihilistic...
or Dirty Realism movement – terminology that McGahan himself (along with most of the writers to whom it was applied) rejected.
In 1995 McGahan followed up with 1988, a prequel to Praise, partially based on time the author spent working at a lighthouse in the Northern Territory during Australia’s bicentennial year.
In 2000, having by his own admission struggled to come up with a third novel, McGahan produced his first work of non-autobiographical fiction: the crime novel Last Drinks
Last Drinks
Last Drinks is a 2000 Ned Kelly Award winning novel by the Australian author Andrew McGahan.A stage version premiered at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre in August 2006.-Reviews:* "Aussiereviews" * "The Australian Public Intellectual network"...
, a reflection upon the endemic political corruption in Queensland in the 1980s, and the aftermath of the famous Fitzgerald Inquiry. It won a Ned Kelly award for crime writing.
In 2004 McGahan published what would become one of his most successful and respected novels – The White Earth
The White Earth
The White Earth is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author Andrew McGahan.The stage version, adapted by McGahan and Shaun Charles, premiered at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre in February–March 2009.-Notes:...
, an epic and gothic tale set in a fictionalised version of the wheat district in which he had grown up. It became another bestseller, and won a raft of literary awards, in particular the Miles Franklin
Miles Franklin Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize for the best Australian ‘published novel or play portraying Australian life in any of its phases’. The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin , who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career ...
.
In 2006 came Underground, an absurdist
Absurdist fiction
Absurdist fiction is a genre of literature, most often employed in novels, plays or poems, that focuses on the experiences of characters in a situation where they cannot find any inherent purpose in life, most often represented by ultimately meaningless actions and events...
satire attacking the more extreme manifestations of the War on Terror in Australia. It was well received in some quarters, but not so well in others, causing conservative commentator Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt is an Australian newspaper columnist, radio commentator, blogger and television host. Bolt is a columnist and associate editor of the Melbourne-based Herald Sun. He has appeared on the Nine Network, Melbourne Talk Radio, ABC Television, Network Ten and local radio...
to declare McGahan an "unhinged propagandist".
In 2009 came Wonders of Godless World
Wonders of a Godless World
Wonders of a Godless World is a 2009 novel by Andrew McGahan. Described as "a kind of modern fable" that "verges on fantasy", it won the 2009 Aurealis Award for best science fiction novel....
, a somewhat surreal work entirely without dialogue or proper nouns and delving into such diverse topics as geology and weather and immortality and madness. It won the 2009 Aurealis Award for Science Fiction
Aurealis Award
Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.-History:...
.
In late 2011 McGahan will publish The Coming of the Whirlpool, which is the first book of a four volume YA fantasy series of seafaring adventure, entitled Ship Kings. The second volume, due in 2012, will be called The Voyage of the Unquiet Ice.
Other Writing.
Stage:
In 1992, while serving a residency at the Queensland Theatre Company, McGahan wrote the play Bait, which was first performed by Renegade Theatre Company in Brisbane in 1995, directed by Shaun Charles, and which won a Mathilda award that year. The play is set in a grim Social Security mailing room and concludes the "Gordon Trilogy" – finishing off the story of Gordon Buchanan that was begun in the novels Praise and 1988.
In 2009 McGahan co-wrote and co-directed with Shaun Charles a stage version of The White Earth for La Boite Theatre Company in Brisbane.
Both stageplays, Bait and The White Earth, have been published by Playlab Press.
Screen:
McGahan wrote the screenplay for the feature film adaptation of Praise, directed by John Curran and released in 1999. The film won multiple awards, including an AFI
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
to McGahan for the screenwriting.
Awards
Praise – Australian/Vogel Award; Commonwealth Writers Prize South East Asia and South Pacific Region, First Novel.Praise Screenplay – AFI for Best Adapted Screenplay; Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Adapted Screenplay; Queensland Premier’s Award, Best Drama Script.
Last Drinks – Ned Kelly Award for Crime Writing, Best First Novel.
The White Earth – Miles Franklin Award, Commonwealth Writers Prize South east Asia and South pacific Region, Age Book of the Year, Courier Mail Book of the Year.
Wonders of a Godless World - Aurealis Award, Best Science Fiction Novel.
Novels
- Praise, Allen & Unwin, 1992, ISBN 9781863732451
- 1988, Macmillan, 1998, ISBN 9780312180324
- Last DrinksLast DrinksLast Drinks is a 2000 Ned Kelly Award winning novel by the Australian author Andrew McGahan.A stage version premiered at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre in August 2006.-Reviews:* "Aussiereviews" * "The Australian Public Intellectual network"...
, Allen & Unwin, 2000, ISBN 9781865084060 - The White EarthThe White EarthThe White Earth is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author Andrew McGahan.The stage version, adapted by McGahan and Shaun Charles, premiered at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre in February–March 2009.-Notes:...
, Allen & Unwin, 2004, ISBN 9781741141474 - UndergroundUnderground (novel)Underground is a novel by Australian author Andrew McGahan. It is set in a near-future right-wing governed Australia.-Awards:*International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, 2008: longlisted...
, Allen & Unwin, 2007, ISBN 9781741753301 - Wonders of a Godless WorldWonders of a Godless WorldWonders of a Godless World is a 2009 novel by Andrew McGahan. Described as "a kind of modern fable" that "verges on fantasy", it won the 2009 Aurealis Award for best science fiction novel....
Allen & Unwin, 2009, ISBN 9781741758092