Penguin Books Australia

In 1929 Robert Graves went to live abroad permanently, vowing 'never to make England my home again'. This is his superb account of his life from his childhood and desperately unhappy school days, to his time serving as a young officer in the First World War.

Containing memorable encounters with fellow writers and poets, Goodbye to All That , is a classic war document, and also has immense value as...

'I was jealous of her writing – the only writing I have been jealous of.'

—Virginia Woolf

Widely acknowledged as New Zealand's finest writer, Katherine Mansfield holds a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders. A new biography is a significant literary event.

Katherine Mansfield: The Story-teller is the first new biography of Mansfield for a quarter of a century. It is published at...

'What we all need,' said Larry, 'is sunshine . . . a country where we can grow.'
'Yes, dear, that would be nice,' agreed Mother, not really listening.
'I had a letter from George this morning – he says Corfu's wonderful. Why don't we pack up and go to Greece?'
'Very well, dear, if you like,' said Mother unguardedly.

'I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills . . . Up in this high air you breathed easily . . . you woke up in the morning and thought: Here I am, where I ought to be.'

From the moment Karen Blixen arrived in Kenya in 1914 to manage a coffee plantation, her heart belonged to Africa. Drawn to the intense colours and ravishing landscapes, Blixen spent her happiest years on the farm, and her...

Edited with an Introduction by Peter Davison

'Arguably the most influential writer thrown up by the West in the twentieth century … the real Orwell — whoever he is — continues to take shape'
The Times

THE LIFE OF A MASTER, TOLD IN LETTERS

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, three National Book awards, and the Nobel Prize in Literature, Saul Bellow wrote marvellously acute, unsparing, tender, ferocious, hilarious, and wise letter throughout his long life (1915-2005).

Creator of Animalia , The Eleventh Hour , The Waterhole and many other bestselling titles, Graeme Base has won the hearts of children and adults around the world with his lavishly illustrated picture books.

The Art of Graeme Base explores the life and work of this remarkable artist, and includes more than 200 illustrations, many of which have never been seen before. In this delightful account, former...

'There has been a lot of fighting hereabouts. The trenches have made themselves rather than been made, and run inconsequently in and out of the big thirty-foot high stacks of bricks; it is most confusing. The parapet of a trench which we don't occupy is built up with ammunition boxes and corpses . . .'

With a Preface by
Esther Calvino

'These pages are distinguished by a sly philosophic humour . . .  a sensuous immediacy of detail and a droll wit'
Guardian

In the world of New Zealand children's books, the name Joy Cowley engenders enormous respect and affection.

 She has published dozens and dozens of children's trade books of all kinds, such as the Mrs Wishy Washy series, the award-winning Shadrach trilogy and Hunter . And she has written literally hundreds of readers for the international educational book market. She is constantly in demand as...

'One of the most exhilarating, engaging, and original works ever written by one writer about another'
ELIZABETH HARDWICK

'His is a voice that roars . . . one of the world's most important thinkers and writers'  Bernardine Evaristo, Independent

This acclaimed volume of autobiographical essays is one of Chinua Achebe's most powerful and personal works to date, containing reflections on personal and collective identity, on home and family, on literature, language and politics.

At thirteen, Jim McNeil quit school for good. At fourteen, he started an affair with a brothel madam and was introduced to Melbourne's underworld. Despite his love of reading and philosophy, McNeil relished his life among thugs, thieves and whores, becoming one of the city's most violent criminals.

An extensive collection of never-before-published interviews reflecting on Ayn Rand's life and character.