It's the power of 'language'

 

“I think with all my books, language has been their subject as much as anything else. Language can elide or displace or sideline whole groups of people. You can't necessarily change the way language is used, but if it becomes something you're conscious of... that gives you a certain power over it.” – Kate Grenville

 

Born in Australia in October of 1950, Grenville has authored 15 books – including fiction, non-fiction, biography and books about the writing process.  Winner of both the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and Britain’s prestigious Orange Prize, she has had her works published worldwide.  Her most recent novel is 2023’s Restless Dolly Maunder, winner of Australia’s Prime Minister Award (2024) for Literary Fiction.

 

Grenville’s writing career started in film before she wrote a collection of highly regarded short stories in the early 1980s.  Her 1985 novel Lilian’s Story established her reputation as one of Australia’s best fiction writers.  That multiple award-winning book also was made into a successful movie. 

 

In the 2000s, Grenville has explored Australia’s colonial past and relationships among its peoples in her acclaimed books The Secret River, The Lieutenant and Sarah Thornhill.  A teacher of writing, too, Grenville has written or co-written several widely used books about the writing process.  

 

“I love music, too,” Grenville said, “and I think there's probably no coincidence there, that the rhythm of the words is almost as important as the words themselves.   And when you can get the two working together, which usually takes me about 20 goes, I feel a huge satisfaction.”