Convict novel wins book prize

A DEBUT novel by a former circus performer has won the Tasmanian Book Prize at the 2019 Tasmanian Premier’s Literary Prizes.

Bridget Crack, a female convict story by Rachel Leary, took out the $25,000 award last night at an event held at Government House.

“It means a great deal to me,” said Ms Leary, who travelled from her home in regional Victoria to receive the prize for the best book with Tasmanian content.

“It is such an amazing endorsement of Bridget Crack as a significant contribution to Tasmanian literature.”

The author, who grew up in Lenah Valley and Rosetta, said she delved into her family history of convict and settler women living in the Tasmanian bush as part of her research.

The novel, set in 1826 Van Diemen’s Land, tells the story of an insubordinate convict who escapes servitude and makes a run for it in the dreaded interior.

Three $5000 prizes were awarded: Robbie Arnott’s magical realism novel Flames won the Margaret Scott Prize for the best book by a Tasmanian author; Brendan Colley won the University of Tasmania Prize for an unpublished manuscript; and Sam George-Allen won an emerging writer’s fellowship.

In the People’s Choice categories, Bridget Crack also took out the Tasmanian Book Prize, with Danielle Wood, writing as Minnie Darke, winning the Margaret Scott Prize for Starcrossed.

The main awards were judged by Professor Lucy Frost, Dr Robert Clarke and Jane Rawson