Literary Prizes and Book Reviews in Australia since 2014

Abstract

This essay seeks to characterise the relationship between two key institutions in the contemporary Australian literary field: book reviews and literary prizes. We find that the relationship between literary prizes and book reviews is one of interdependence and amplification. By "interdependence", we mean that there is significant movement of agents between the two sectors as well as a mutual influence of the sectors upon each other. By "amplification", we refer to the fact that attention in one sector often leads to heightened attention in the other. Reviews value many of the same works as prizes-especially in the case of works of fiction-and their value assessments are magnified when those works go on to win prizes. Prizes also implicitly and explicitly evidence responses to reviews. Furthermore, success in prizes usually leads to better review coverage for the author's subsequent publications