Telling Lives: The Seymour Biography Lectures 2005-2023

(Paperback)

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The Seymour Biography Lecture provided eminent life writers with an opportunity to explore the business and craft of biography, autobiography or memoir. It was hosted by the Australian National University's Humanities Research Centre from 2005 to 2009 and moved to the National Library in 2010 with the support of Dr John and Mrs Heather Seymour AO.

Over seventeen years, significant authors have spoke on topics such as 'Biography and the Struggle for the Soul of Australia' (Jill Roe, 2007), 'Truth. Truthfulness. Self. Voice.' (Raimond Gaita, 2017) and 'Honouring the Biographer's Contract' (Chris Wallace, 2023).

This anthology of the lectures, edited for publication and introduced by Professor Chris Wallace, includes contributions from:

• Dr Brenda Niall
• Dr Lawrence Goldman
• Professor Jill Roe
• Richard Holmes
• Dr David Day
• Professor Frances Spalding CBE
• Robert Dessaix
• Professor Jeffrey Meyers
• Drusilla Modjeska
• Professor Ray Monk
• Robert Drewe
• David Marr
• Raimond Gaita
• Richard Fidler
• Emeritus Professor Judith Brett
• Jacqueline Kent
• Professor Chris Wallace

With thoughtfulness, humour and candour these international experts collectively interogate the importance of writing beautifully and accurately about life and the necessary skills required to do so. Telling Lives honours the art of life-writing and will provide inspiration and assistance for current and aspiring writers.

Author Bio

Chris Wallace is a professor in the Faculty of Business, Government and Law, University of Canberra. She is the author of How to Win an Election and Political Lives: Australian prime ministers and their biographers.