Charlotte Wood

Charlotte Wood is an Australian novelist and non-fiction writer celebrated for her insightful explorations of social issues and the human condition. Her novel The Natural Way of Things (2015) won the Stella Prize, the Indie Book of the Year and Novel of the Year awards, and the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction. Her latest novel, Stone Yard Devotional (2023), was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize and praised as "a quiet novel of immense power".

Charlotte Wood was born in Cooma, New South Wales, in 1965. Wood's education included a BA from Charles Sturt University, an MA in Creative Arts from the University of Technology Sydney and a PhD from the University of New South Wales. Before turning to full-time writing, she worked as a journalist and has since taught writing at various levels.

Her literary career began with Pieces of a Girl (1999), which won the Jim Hamilton Prize and the Dobbie Award. This was followed by The Submerged Cathedral (2004), which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Subsequent novels, including The Children (2007) and Animal People (2011), continued to receive critical acclaim, with the latter longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and winning the People's Choice Award at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

The Natural Way of Things made Wood a significant voice in contemporary Australian literature. Exploring themes of misogyny and control, it was described as "startling and unforgettable" and remains a landmark work. Her next novel, The Weekend (2019), an international bestseller about ageing and friendship, has been shortlisted for the Stella Prize, the ALS Gold Medal and the Miles Franklin Award.

In 2023, The Weekend was adapted for the stage by the Belvoir Theatre Company, and The Natural Way of Things was featured in ABC Television's The Books That Made Us. Wood has also written acclaimed non-fiction books, including The Luminous Solution (2021), Love and Hunger (2012) and The Writer's Room (2016).

Recognised for contributing to Australian literature, Wood was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019 and named one of the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence. Charlotte Wood lives in Sydney.

Photo credit: www.charlottewood.com.au