This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1974.
Events The Patrick White Award is presented for the first time. White used his 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature award to establish a trust for this prize. The Age Book of the Year Awards are presented for the first time. The first set of awards consisted of the Fiction (or Imaginative Writing) Award and the Non-fiction Award. In addition, one of the two award winners was also named The Age Book of the Year.The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature edited by Wilde et al. (1994) p. 23
Major publications Books James Aldridge – Mockery in Arms Jon Cleary – Peter's Pence David Foster – The Pure Land Catherine Gaskin – The Property of a Gentleman David Ireland – Burn Thomas Keneally – Blood Red, Sister Rose Colleen McCullough – Tim Ronald McKie – The Mango Tree Gerald Murnane – Tamarisk Row Morris West – Harlequin Thea Astley - A Kindness Cup
Short stories Peter Carey – The Fat Man in History Frank Moorhouse – The Electrical Experience : A Discontinuous Narrative Patrick White – The Cockatoos : Shorter Novels and Stories
Science Fiction and Fantasy A. Bertram Chandler – The Bitter Pill Cherry Wilder – "The Ark of James Carlyle"
Children's and Young Adult fiction James Aldridge – The Marvellous Mongolian Mavis Thorpe Clark – The Sky is Free Ruth Park – Callie's Castle Joan Phipson – Helping Horse Colin Thiele Albatross Two Magpie Island
Poetry
Bruce Beaver – Lauds and Plaints : Poems (1968–1972) Robert Gray – Creekwater Journal Clive James – Peregrine Prykke's Pilgrimage Through the London Literary World : A Tragedy in Heroic Couplets Jennifer Maiden – Tactics David Malouf – Neighbours in a Thicket : Poems Les Murray "The Broad Bean Sermon" Lunch and Counter Lunch "The Mitchells"
Drama Louis Nowra – The Death of Joe Orton Jim McNeill – How Does Your Garden Grow? David Williamson – The Department
Biography Ivan Southall – Fly West
Awards and honours
Lifetime achievement Award Author Christopher Brennan Award R. D. Fitzgerald Patrick White Award Christina Stead
Literary Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award David Foster The Pure Land Macmillan ALS Gold Medal"Imaginary lives of the defeated in the realm of alienation", The Canberra Times, 21 February 1990, p33 David Malouf Neighbours in a Thicket : Poems University of Queensland Press Colin Roderick Award"Colin Roderick Award - Previous Winners", James Cook University David Malouf Neighbours in a Thicket : Poems University of Queensland Press
Fiction Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award David Foster The Pure Land Macmillan Miles Franklin Award Ronald McKie The Mango Tree Collins
Children and Young Adult Award Category Author Title PublisherChildren's Book of the Year Award Older Readers"Judges' Report", The Canberra Times, 6 July 1974, p11 Patricia Wrightson The Nargun and the Stars Hutchinson Picture Book Jenny Wagner, illustrated by Ron Brooks The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek Longman Young
Science fiction and fantasy Award Category Author Title PublisherAustralian SF Achievement Award Best Australian Science Fiction Not awarded
Poetry
Award Author Title Publisher Grace Leven Prize for PoetryAustlit - Neighbours in a Thicket : Poems by David Malouf David Malouf Neighbours in a Thicket : Poems University of Queensland Press
Drama
Award Author TitleAWGIE Award for Stage Dorothy Hewett Bonbons and Roses for Dolly Ron Blair President Wilson in Paris
Non-fiction Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award Manning Clark A History of Australia Vol. 3 Melbourne University Press
Births A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1974 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.
9 June — Anna Goldsworthy, writer, teacher and classical pianist 14 June — Scott Monk, author 2 July — Matthew Reilly, author 27 December — Penni Russon, children's author
Unknown date Alyssa Brugman, author of fiction for young adults Shaun Tan, artist and author
Deaths A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1974 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.
7 January – Nan McDonald, writer for children (born 1921) 21 January – R. G. Howarth, poet and critic (born 1906) June – Eve Langley, novelist and poet (born 1904)
See also 1974 in Australia 1974 in literature 1974 in poetry List of years in Australian literature List of years in literature
References