Helen Garner

Australian journalist, novelist and screenwriter · Australia · On the map · Journalists · Born 1942 · age 83

Helen Garner is an Australian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist. Garner's first novel, Monkey Grip, published in 1977, immediately established her as an original voice on the Australian literary scene - it is now widely considered a classic.

Helen Garner is read about 146 times a day, in 14 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 28 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 96 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2016Windham-Campbell Literature PrizesAward2001Victorian Honour Roll of WomenAward1992“That,' I said, 'would be a blessing. There are so many things I'd like to forget I hardly know what would be left standing, if I ever got started.”In their wordsPage 4.Read the whole statement

“Ideas came swarming through her, and like many people who labour in the obsession of solitude, she lacked the detachment to challenge them.”In their wordsPage 57, describing Maxine.Read the whole statement

“Crap,' said Janet. 'He was a whinger and he wrote it down. That's not poetry.”In their wordsPage 78.Read the whole statement

“The rain began again. It fell heavily, easily, with no meaning or intention but the fulfilment of its own nature, which was to fall and fall.”In their wordsPage 150.Read the whole statement

“Our minds are not hopeful, thought Janet; but our nerves are made of optimistic stuff.”In their wordsPage 221.Read the whole statement

1986Christina Stead Prize for FictionAward1984“Course I care. I always care. But there's no point in making a song and dance about it, like that night he stayed here. Know something?”In their wordsThe Children's Bach (1984)Read the whole statement

1978Banjo Award for FictionAward1942Born7 November 1942

People around Helen

Media & music

Photos 3

Janet Clarke Hall, where Garner resided in the 1960s as a student of the University of Melbourne

Garner wrote most of Monkey Grip at Melbourne's State Library of Victoria in the mid-1970s.

In their own words 4

Helen Garner

4 statements, newest first

It's rather like a Poe story, isn't it,' said Patrick luxuriously, unfocusing his eyes.
1992 · Page 8., Own words
The devil's everywhere,' he said. 'Not just at Brunswick one day and somewhere else the next. He's everywhere.
1992 · Page 101., Own words
Out in deep space the planets sweep, inexorable, along their splendid orbits. Maxine bowed her head. From now on she would take the gods' dictation.
1992 · Page 166., Own words

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Awards

Windham-Campbell Literature Prizes2016

Victorian Honour Roll of Women2001

Christina Stead Prize for Fiction1986

Banjo Award for Fiction1978

About this person

She has a reputation for incorporating and adapting her personal experiences in her fiction, something that has brought her widespread attention, particularly with her novels Monkey Grip and The Spare Room (2008).

Country

Australia