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David Szalay, who won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh, is accused of taking the story from Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film Barry Lyndon.

Booker Prize winner accused of copying classic Stanley Kubrick film

The judges said they had “never read anything quite like it” – but others say the award-winning novel Flesh bears similarities with the 1975 film Barry Lyndon.

  • Tom McArdle

Latest

From courtrooms to distant spacecraft: The Age Book of the Year shortlists announced

These are the books vying for this year’s The Age Book of the Year awards.

  • Kylie Northover

Brisbane Writers Festival handed literary awards after intervention saga

After leaving significant questions over the future of the Queensland Literary Awards earlier this month, Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek has revealed their new home.

  • Matt Dennien

The March 21 edition

Stephanie Alexander and The Cook’s Companion at 30 | Free-diver Ant Williams | Debra Adelaide and Gabrielle Carey | How to deliver a baby on a plane

Queensland Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development Minister Dale Last, his director-general Graham Fraine, Solicitor-General Gim Del Villar KC, and Federal Court Chief Justice Debra Mortimer.

A ministerial direction, a court warning, and a cloud over native title

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus: native title questions swirl, (Red) Union boss’ board gig, slow progress on police integrity, and more.

  • Matt Dennien and James Hall
David Szalay: “I feel writing’s good for my mental health, but maybe I’m just deluding myself.”

Life, death and the Booker Prize: The author of Flesh answers our tricky questions

Canadian-born, Hungarian-British author David Szalay, on achievements, power shifts – and that memorable first chapter of his Booker Prize-winning novel, Flesh.

  • Benjamin Law
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Shaun Drummond, then acting Queensland Health director general while on leave from Deloitte, pictured leaving the state’s Commission of Inquiry into Forensic DNA Testing in Queensland in 2022.

Former health boss’s firm wraps up consulting gig in old digs – for now

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus: extra cash for Metro North’s key consultants, (at least one) Education pay rise, question time bubbly, and more.

  • Matt Dennien, James Hall and Cameron Atfield
Langbroek had accused author K.A. Ren Wyld of “glorifying terrorism” over a social media post.

Library stripped of state literary award role in fellowship fallout

Queensland’s state library will no longer run major literary awards on behalf of the government after a long-awaited review. But the future of the event is unclear.

  • Matt Dennien
First Nations poet Evelyn Araluen has won the prestigious Victorian Premier’s Literary Prize.

‘So many stories to tell’: First Nations poet wins prestigious literary prize

The acclaimed writer’s award comes just four years after her debut collection became the first poetry collection to take home the Stella Prize.

  • Kylie Northover
After playing in a band and being a high school teacher, Andy Griffiths dropped everything to become a children's author. His international success is a testament to his punk-rock writing philosophy. Video by Margaret Gordon
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Treehouse series author Andy Griffiths wins the Laureate

After playing in a band and being a high school teacher, Andy Griffiths dropped everything to become a children's author. His international success is a testament to his punk-rock writing philosophy. Video by Margaret Gordon