The Miles Franklin Literary Award 2008
The Time We Have Taken
On Thursday 19 June at a gala dinner held at the State Library of New South Wales, Steven Carroll was announced as the 2008 winner for his novel The Time We Have Taken.
On accepting the Award, Steven Carroll said :
"It's an extraordinary thrill and an honour - but it's also daunting to be joining a long list of authors whom you've either studied or admired for years. The Miles Franklin comes with the gravitas of a whole literary tradition, and you feel that weight almost instantly."
The Miles Franklin Literary Award, our first and most prestigious literary award, was established in 1954 with a bequest from the author Miles Franklin. She was concerned to see Australian literature flourish and knew first hand the struggles most authors have in Australia.
The Miles Franklin Literary Award celebrates Australian character and creativity and nurtures the continuing life of literature about Australia. It is awarded for the novel of the year which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases.