2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award winners announced

09 November 2023

9 November 2023

Tonight at the Bondi Pavilion, Waverley Council announced that Alison Bashford, author and Professor at the University of New South Wales has been awarded the 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award for her book An Intimate History of Evolution: The Story of the Huxley Family (Allen Lane). Presented tonight by author and broadcaster James O'Loghlin, this year's award offers Bashford a major prize of $40,000.

Now in its 22nd year, the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award has evolved into one of Australia’s most prestigious and respected literary awards. It remains the only award of its calibre to be presented by a Local Government, earning nation-wide recognition for its appreciation of compelling research-based Australian literature. The Nib Award’s independent, expert judging panel determines winners whose work best fulfills the criteria of high literary merit, quality research, readability and value to the community.

In An Intimate History of Evolution, Bashford tells the story of the Huxleys: the Victorian natural historian T. H. Huxley (“Darwin’s Bulldog”) and his grandson, the scientist, conservationist, and zoologist Julian Huxley. Between them, they communicated to the world the great modern story of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Bashford writes seamlessly about these omnivorous intellects together, almost as if they were a single man whose long, vital life bookended the colossal shifts in world history from the Age of Sail to the Space Age, and from colonial wars to world wars to the Cold War.

The $4,000 Nib People’s Choice Prize was awarded to The Age of Seeds by Fiona McMillan-Webster (Thames & Hudson Australia). Hundreds of votes were received from around the country in support of the Nib People’s Choice Prize.

In The Age of Seeds Fiona McMillan-Webster tells the astonishing story of seeds, the crucial role they play in our everyday lives, and what that might mean for our planet. When a 2000-year-old extinct date palm seed was discovered, no one expected it to be alive.  But it sprouted a healthy young plant.  That seeds produced millennia ago could be viable today suggests they are capable of extreme lifespans. In the face of growing population, a changing climate and declining biodiversity, it has never been more important to understand how best to make seed plants last.

2023 shortlisted authors were selected from a record 239 nominations received across the country. Each shortlisted author received the Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize ($1,500). Joining Alison Bashford and Fiona McMillan-Webster, the shortlisted authors were:

  • Anam by André Dao (Hamish Hamilton)
  • Emperors in Lilliput by Jim Davidson (The Miegunyah Press)
  • Life So Full of Promise: further biographies of Australia’s lost generation by Ross McMullin (Scribe Publications)
  • Shirley Hazzard: A Writing Life by Brigitta Olubas (Virago)

This year’s judging panel consisted of poet Jamie Grant, writer Katerina Cosgrove, and publisher Julia Carlomagno. Award judges commended the quality of work nominated for this year’s award saying, “It’s a difficult process to choose a winner from so many worthy and deserving books, each one with its own unique strengths and qualities.”

“Every finalists’ work was not only rigorous in terms of research, but also well-crafted, powerful, incisive — and enjoyable to read! Reaching a consensus on the winner took some time, with lively debate, but ultimately we have chosen an important book which richly rewards careful reading.”

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, congratulated this year’s prize winners for bringing unique Australian perspectives to life through research-based storytelling.

“Waverley Council has supported Australian literature through the Nib Award for more than two decades and its longevity reflects the importance of the Award to the Waverley community, lovers of great stories, writers and the Australian publishing industry,” Mayor Masselos said.

“The Nib is one of the most respected and valuable literary awards in the country, and we’re delighted to be able to offer a $40,000 major prize for the first time, thanks to the generous new sponsorship agreement with our Principal Sponsors Mark and Evette Moran which commenced this year, and the ongoing commitment of community partner Gertrude and Alice Bookshop and Café.”

-ENDS-

Media inquiries: DMCPR Media T: 02 9550 9207 | E: debbie@dmcpr.com.au | M: 0412 818 071

Nib Award inquiries (excluding media): nibaward@waverley.nsw.gov.au