Tackling war, R and revolution, two authors at the top of their game discuss their epic new novels with ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans.
In Politica, the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature Yumna Kassab explores the personal cost of war with an artist’s sensibility. “Like an impressionist painter, Kassab uses words like brushstrokes” (Books+Publishing).
Emily Maguire’s hotly anticipated new book, Rapture, offers an imaginative and audacious retelling of Pope Joan, described by Charlotte Wood as “a scorching vision of a book”.
Emily and Yumna find contrast and common ground in these powerful works of fiction.
Yumna Kassab is the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature and author of The House of Youssef, Australiana and The Lovers. Her books have been listed for The Stella Prize, Miles Franklin Award, Prime Minister's Literary Awards, QLD Literary Awards, Victorian Premier's Literary Award and NSW Premier's Award. Her latest book is Politica.
Emily Maguire is the author of ten books, including the Stella Prize and Miles Franklin shortlisted An Isolated Incident. She was the 2018/2019 Writer-in-Residence at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney and the 2023 HC Coombs Creative Arts Fellow at the Australian National University. Emily’s latest novel is Rapture.
Kate Evans is the co-host (with Cassie McCullagh) of The Bookshelf on ABC Radio National. She regularly hosts interviews at writers' festivals. She has a PhD in history and too many books, and regrets neither.
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