Meet the Author: Helen Garner
Location
Elder Hall
About
Drum roll please ... yes, that's right, in thrilling news, we are presenting a Meet the Author event with the inestimable Helen Garner, one of Australia's foremost writers, and firm Matilda Bookshop favourite. Helen will be launching her latest book, The Season, in what promises to be a stellar finale to our event program for 2024. Helen will be in conversation with broadcaster, Sarah Kanowski, at 730pm on Tuesday December 3, at beautiful Elder Hall, University of Adelaide, North Terrace. The chat between Helen and Sarah is set to be questing, rollicking, deep, and glorious as they discuss football, the observant life, and much more besides.
We had previously advertised this as a chat between Helen Garner and Richard Fidler, but due to a family illness Richard has had to regretfully make way for his Conversations co-host, Sarah Kanowski, to interview Helen. Thanks for your understanding.
In The Season, it's footy time in Melbourne, and Helen Garner is following her grandson’s suburban team. She turns up not only at every game (give or take), but at every training session, shivering on the sidelines in the dark, fascinated by the spectacle. She’s a passionate Western Bulldogs supporter (with a rather shaky grasp of the rules) and a great admirer of the players and the epic theatre of the game. But this is something more than that. It is a chance to connect with her youngest grandchild, to be close to him in his last moments as a child and in his headlong rush into manhood. To witness his triumphs and defeats, to fear for his safety in battle, to gasp and to cheer for the team as it fights its way towards the finals.
Garner’s sharp eye, wit and warm humour bring the team and the season to life, as she documents this pivotal moment, both as part of the story and as silent witness. It’s a reflection on masculinity, on the nobility, grace and grit of team spirit and the game’s power to enthrall.
Helen Garner writes novels, stories, screenplays and works of non-fiction. In 2006 she received the inaugural Melbourne Prize for Literature, and in 2016 she won the prestigious Windham–Campbell Prize for non-fiction and the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award. In 2019 she was honoured with the Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature. Her novels include The Children’s Bach, Cosmo Cosmolino and The Spare Room. She lives in Melbourne.
Sarah Kanowski is a writer, editor and broadcaster with ABC Radio National's Conversations. She previously presented Books and Arts on ABC RN and looked after Conversations when Richard Fidler was away. In 2018 Sarah joined the Conversations team permanently, and presents the program on Thursdays and Fridays.
Tickets are $20 or you can purchase Ticket + Book for $35 (The Season is $35 RRP) with the book to be collected at the event. The Season will be on sale for the night for $35.
If you are unable to attend the event on the night, but would love a copy of the signed book delivered or posted to your South Australian address (free postage) after the event, please select Book Only ($35).
Location
Contact Details
08 8339 3931 or books@matildabookshop.com.au
