Good news out of the UK this morning with Australia's Richard Flanagan winning the 2014 Man Booker Prize for his novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Random House).
It is a gripping read, based on Flanagan's father's harrowing experience as a Japanese prisoner-of-war on Burma's 'Death Railway'. Man Booker judges described the book as something that 'kicks you so hard in the stomach' it takes the breath away.
On Remembrance Day 2013 Executive Director Michael Fullilove hosted Richard at the Lowy Institute, reflecting on war, memory, the Australian character and the relationship between fiction and history. Michael and Richard held a fascinating conversation about Richard's motivations for writing the book, as well as the extensive research and twelve-year-long writing process. You can listen to the podcast here, or watch below Michael's short video interview with Richard.
[vimeo:79154781]