Pick any Australian novel, play or book of poetry from the last 200 years, and chances are
The Bibliography of Australian Literature will be recording it.
The ambitious project began in 2001, with the third and newest volume (published by UQP) to be launched at Customs House this weekend.
The Bibliography is complemented by AustLit – an online literature information database housed at UQ – and lists all book-length works of Australian writers from the late 18th to the beginning of the 21st century.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and general editor of the Bibliography, Professor John Hay, AC, said the publication marked a milestone in literary studies scholarship.
“Since 1999, AustLit has built an unparalleled electronic archive of information relating to Australian authors and their work,” Professor Hay said.
“When complete, the Bibliography will stretch across four volumes and almost 3500 pages – an invaluable resource for the study of Australian literature and a major achievement of UQ and its research partners.”
Associate editor Kerry Kilner said the publication worked in tandem with AustLit’s digital records, which were updated daily.
“Australia has a relatively short history of print culture in comparison with European countries or even the USA, and it's an exciting opportunity to be able to trace our literary history in this way,” she said.
“AustLit is unique in being able to claim a comprehensive record of a country's literary achievements, and the relationship between the Bibliography and the online database allows us to create a really amazing resource.”
Once completed in 2008, the Bibliography will contain details of more than 40,000 works and 12,000 authors.
The launch coincides with the opening of the 2007 Association for the Study of Australian Literature conference on July 1, which is hosted by the University and features some of the country’s most celebrated authors including Dorothy Porter, David Malouf and 2007 Miles Frankin Award winner, Alexis Wright.
Media: Kerry Kilner (07 3365 3313, k.kilner@uq.edu.au) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)
