Sydney Writers' Festival May 19-25, 2014

Richard Flanagan Comes To Sydney - Tickets On Sale One of Australia’s greatest and most beloved writers, Richard Flanagan, speaks to Phillip Adams about his first novel in five years, The Narrow Road to the Deep North. This extraordinary novel explores the cruelty of war, the tenuousness of life and the impossibility of love. August, 1943. In the despair of a Japanese POW camp on the Thai-Burma death railway, Australian surgeon Dorrigo Evans is haunted by his love affair with his uncle's young wife two years earlier. Struggling to save the men under his command from starvation, from cholera, from beatings, he receives a letter that will change his life forever. This savagely beautiful novel is a story about the many forms of love and death, of war and truth, as one man comes of age, prospers, only to discover all that he has lost. "Flanagan can stop a reader's breath." - Los Angeles Times "Mr Flanagan is a master of sleight of hand, adept at using words to conjure worlds, an indefatigable artist." - The New York Times Richard Flanagan was born in Longford, Tasmania, in 1961. His novels, Death Of A River Guide, The Sound Of One Hand Clapping, Gould's Book Of Fish, The Unknown Terrorist, and Wanting have received numerous honours and are published in twenty-six countries. He directed a feature film version of The Sound Of One Hand Clapping. A collection of his essays is published as And What Do You Do, Mr Gable?. This event is proudly supported by the University of New South Wales. When: Tuesday 1 October 6.30pm Where: Playhouse Sydney Opera House Tickets: Tickets go on sale 9am today - BOOK TICKETS HERE Get Caught Reading - It's Indigenous Literacy Day! Can you imagine not being able to read? Not all Australians have the same access to books and literacy resources, which means many children never learn to read. You can help improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Australians living in remote and isolated regions by getting involved with 'Get Caught Reading'. To be a part of the event, head to the website, make a donation from $5 and upload a picture of yourself reading a book.  Get Caught Reading - Sign Up Here!