A night at the opera is Bliss

Bliss for some but not Peter Carey; the Chinese block another writer from speaking out; the PM adds to his awards but there's one glaring omission; and the British fling their money around.

Bordering on the brink Dyson

Tough times for the big booksellers; why Mark Rubbo is looking for a free lunch; Diana Gabaldon's taste for men in kilts; the future of the Great Australian Novel; and the Wrangle at the Scarlet Stilettos. By Jason Steger.

Price rules in private equity refloats

Now that Kathmandu has floated successfully €“ as opposed to the lacklustre Myer performance and the failure of the Investa offering €“ private equity groups with retail assets are not likely to shy away from plans for upcoming listings.

coming home

Raised on a London housing estate before coming here on an adventure at 16, Alex Miller has become one of Australia's finest writers. But his youth as an outsider has left a scar, he tells John vanTiggelen.

What I'm reading

Krissy Kneen, bookseller and writer

A new book begins at 40

Having helped to shape Melbourne's literary landscape, Mark Rubbo has now unleashed a new chapter in Australian fiction. Andrew Stephens meets the man of books.

The Slap beats hot field at book industry awards

CHRISTOS TSIOLKAS lost the Miles Franklin Award to Tim Winton last week but his novel The Slap won another major book prize last night over Winton's Breath and other finalists.

Undercover

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