Roderick Memorial Lecture

In 1832 Gustav Flaubert, the French novelist, wrote, 'There is not a particle of life which does not bear poetry within it.' In this year’s Colin Roderick Lecture, Sophie Laguna will speak to this idea, focusing on the ways that character in fiction can communicate this poetry so effectively.

Sofie’s second novel for adults, The Eye of the Sheep won the 2015 Miles Franklin Award. It was also longlisted for the IMPAC Dublin International Book Award and shortlisted for the Stella Prize. Sofie’s first novel for adults, One Foot Wrong, published throughout Europe, the US and the UK, was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and short-listed for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. Sofie’s third adult novel, The Choke, won the 2018 Indie Award in the Best Novel category, and was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier Literary Awards, the Australian Book Industry Awards, the Voss Award, the Australian Literary Society Gold Medal, and longlisted for the Stella Award, the Kibble Award, the Colin Roderick Literary Award and the IMPAC Dublin International Book Award. Sofie’s most recent novel for adults, Infinite Splendours, won the 2021 Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award and the HT Priestley Medal, and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, the Indie Award and the Australian Book Industry Awards.

Sofie is now an award-winning author for children and adults. Her many books for young people have been published in the US, the UK and in translation throughout Europe and Asia. She has been short-listed for the Queensland Premier’s Award, and her books have been named Honour Books and Notable Books by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Titles include ‘Too Loud Lily’, ‘Our Australian Girl: Meet Grace’ and ‘Bird and Sugar Boy.’

Sofie has recently released a new novel for children, The Song of Lewis Carmichael, illustrated by her husband, Marc McBride, and a picture book, When You’re Older, illustrated by Judy Watson. Scheduled for release later this year is The House on Pleasant Street, a picture book also illustrated by Marc McBride.

The Foundation of Australian Literary Studies hosts an annual public lecture in memory of the late Professor Colin Roderick, CBE.  The event series provides a platform for celebrated Australian authors to share their stories that have influenced their writing.

The lecture is typically held in Winter each year and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

The series has hosted the likes of Bri Lee, Anna Goldsworthy, Drusilla Modjeska and Graeme Blundell. See the full list of previous visitors.

The event series is proudly supported by: