Stephen Romei

Stephen Romei writes on books and films. He was formerly literary editor at The Australian and The Weekend Australian.

Monet, Gauguin and ‘the Scottish Mona Lisa’ are all part of a spectacular art exhibition from Scotland.

Sharon Verghis

Alan Atkinson’s three-volume history of Australia has earned him comparisons with Manning Clark — and another award.

A PAIR OF RAGGED CLAWS: STEPHEN ROMEI

There’s Pussy Galore, fast cars and a Korean millionaire but the new Bond novel could have been more adventurous.

Adrian McKinty

Doctor-author Mohamed Khadra’s novel draws on the real experiences of front-line medicos in the world’s trouble spots.

Paul Cleary

In key poems in this collection, Peter Rose addresses the accident that left his brother a quadriplegic.

Peter Kenneally

Charlotte Wood’s new novel The Natural Order of Things reveals a keen intelligence and an audacious imagination at work.

A PAIR OF RAGGED CLAWS: STEPHEN ROMEI

Laurence Olivier and Ian McKellen make the cut but a history of great Shakespearean actors has some weird omissions.

Peter Craven

The Eden whaling operation that employed the killer skills of a pod of orcas is revived in Shirley Barrett’s new novel.

Eleanor Limprecht

Chronic marijuana smoking and rapid movement don’t usually go hand in hand — but they do in American Ultra.

Italian literary sensation Elena Ferrante has brought her Neapolitan saga to a powerful conclusion.

Sunil Badami