With Cristos Tsiolkas hailed by The Times as a “literary rock star” and The Slap storming Britain this month, it’s easy to forget a generation of Australian authors who first broke into Blighty.
One such writer is Patrick White. His novel The Vivisector is remembered though by being in the running for the Lost Booker announced later today. The prize is based on a popular vote with White posthumously in the running, along with fellow Aussie Shirley Hazzard for The Bay of Noon.
Over at The Guardian they’re giving White short odds as his novel is “ugly, loaded with implausible love affairs and often plays out in the toilet”, yet it “would do credit to any shortlist”. They were blunter about Hazzard’s chances: “It doesn’t deserve to win.”
The award was announced on Wednesday.
