Spectrum
The Blackman family letters paint a picture of a cultural moment
The letters between Charles and Barbara Blackman capture a decade in Australia’s cultural life.
- by Chloe Wolifson
Latest
Small but perfectly formed – a new trend in writers festivals
Jane Sullivan finds that you don’t lose anything at small regional literary festivals.
- by Jane Sullivan
Walking a tightrope during Stalin’s reign of terror
The protagonist of Malcolm Knox’s new novel is an old chum of Lavrentiy Beria, one of the most sadistic of Stalin’s colleagues.
- by Daniel Herborn
What to read: A documentary novel about the pandemic, and the joys of trees
Our reviewers cast their eyes over recently published fiction and non-fiction.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
Escaping the bonds of class and ‘the heterosexual dictatorship’
Christopher Isherwood is best known as the creator of the Berlin stories that were turned into the play, musical and film, Cabaret. But there was more to his life than that.
- by Owen Richardson
‘If Bono and Springsteen can run around and do their art, why can’t LL Cool J?’
At 56, the rap great is looking to bust hip-hop’s age barrier with his first album in 11 years.
- by Robert Moran
Dance music’s reigning superstar has the stadium-sized hooks, but where’s the personality?
Ten Days must be the only album ever to feature both Emmylou Harris and Skrillex.
- by Robert Moran and Annabel Ross
Opinion
WordPlay
The slurs you’ve been using without even knowing it
Most rude words are obvious, but some are hiding in plain sight.
- by David Astle
★★★★★
Review
This doco is a deep dive into television’s most groundbreaking show
David Chase opens up about the origins of The Sopranos in an in-depth celebration of the series.
- by Kylie Northover
They busted his knees, terrified his friends, then Markus Zusak’s dogs delivered
It was a new dog big on attitude who finally convinced The Book Thief author to put pen to paper.
- by Jason Steger
‘The Brits made us feel like it was a peasant language’: Kneecap’s rebellious rise to power
The real-life story of a rap trio from Belfast and their fight to save the Irish language has become one of the year’s hottest films.
- by Thomas Mitchell