This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1978.
Events Jessica Anderson won the 1978 Miles Franklin Award for Tirra Lirra by the River The Anne Elder Award for poetry is awarded for the first time
Major publications Books Jessica Anderson – Tirra Lirra by the River Nancy Cato – All the Rivers Run David Malouf – An Imaginary Life Christopher Koch – The Year of Living Dangerously George Turner – Transit of Cassidy
Science fiction and fantasy A. Bertram Chandler — To Keep the Ship David Lake — The Gods of Xuma, or, Barsoom Revisited George Turner – Beloved Son
Crime and mystery Nicholas Hasluck — Quarantine
Children's and young adult fiction Peter Pavey – One Dragon's Dream Joan Phipson – Keep Calm Patricia Wrightson – The Dark Bright Water
Poetry David Campbell — "Lizard and Stone" Lee Cataldi — Invitation to a Marxist Lesbian Party Bruce Dawe — Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954–1978 Rosemary Dobson – "The Three Fates" Jennifer Maiden — Birthstones
Drama Ron Blair – Marx
Non-fiction Patsy Adam-Smith – The ANZACS Mary Durack – The End of Dreaming Wendy Lowenstein – Weevils in the Flour Elyne Mitchell – Light Horse: The Story of Australia's Mounted Troops
Awards and honours
Order of Australia Margaret Hasluck appointed Dame of the Order of Australia (AD) for "pre-eminent achievement in the fields of literature and history and for extraordinary and meritorious public service to Australia".
Lifetime achievement Award Author Christopher Brennan Award Rosemary Dobson Patrick White Award Gwen Harwood
Literary Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award Christopher Koch The Year of Living Dangerously Nelson ALS Gold Medal No award Colin Roderick Award Leslie Rees History of Australian Drama Angus & Robertson
Fiction Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award Christopher Koch The Year of Living Dangerously Nelson Miles Franklin Award Jessica Anderson Tirra Lirra by the River Macmillan
Children and Young Adult Award Category Author Title PublisherChildren's Book of the Year Award Older Readers Patricia Wrightson The Ice is Coming Hutchinson Picture Book Jenny Wagner, illustrated by Ron Brooks John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat Viking Kestrel
Science fiction and fantasy Award Category Author Title Publisher Australian SF Achievement Award Best Australian Science Fiction Cherry Wilder The Luck of Brin's Five Atheneum
Poetry Award Author Title Publisher Anne Elder Award Lee Cataldi Invitation to a Marxist Lesbian Party Wild & Woolley Grace Leven Prize for Poetry Bruce Dawe Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954–1978 Longman Cheshire
Drama
Award Author Title AWGIE Award for Stage David Williamson The Club
Non-fiction Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award Patsy Adam-Smith The ANZACS Nelson
Births A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1978 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.
28 December — Holly Throsby, novelist and musician
Unknown date Brett McBean, horror, thriller and speculative fiction writer Fiona McFarlane, novelist and short story writer Andrew O'Connor, novelist
Deaths A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1978 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.
9 March – John K. Ewers, novelist, poet, schoolteacher and short story writer (born 1904) 16 April – Barbara Vernon, playwright, screenwriter and radio announcer (born 1916) 23 May – Rose Lindsay, artist's model, author, and printmaker (born 1885) 15 June – Paul McGuire, author, public servant and diplomat (born 1903) 20 July – Velia Ercole, short story writer and novelist (born 1903) 23 July – T. Inglis Moore, writer, anthologist and academic (born 1901) 24 July – Annie Rattray Rentoul, children's poet and story writer (born 1882) 27 September – Margaret Horder, artist and children's book illustrator (born 1903) 7 December – Helen Haenke, poet, playwright and artist (born 1916)
See also 1978 in Australia 1978 in literature 1978 in poetry List of years in Australian literature List of years in literature
References