'The Archibald is an adventure in conjecture for an audience looking for the definition of the real thing.' (Introduction)
'Isi Leibler was one of the most influential of all Australians in international politics, an unexpected role because he was never a parliamentarian, and never an ambassador nor top civil servant. He was also exceptional because his political base sprang from one of the nation’s smallest ethnic groups, the Jews.' (Introduction)
'Ethel Malley is the unsung heroine of the Ern Malley affair, which is the best-known of the many Australian literary hoaxes and truly one of the grandest deceptions in literary history. Or at least she languished in obscurity until Stephen Orr, who has long been fascinated by Ern, decided to sing her raucous song in his latest novel, the author’s tenth.' (Introduction)
'In Angela O’Keeffe’s debut novel, Night Blue, the reader is asked to suspend their disbelief and invest in the consciousness of an inanimate object, Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles. The painting’s story is well-known. There was outrage in 1973 when this colossal work of American abstract expressionism was purchased by the Whitlam government. Some thought Australia should be investing in its own artists. Others scorned its experiment and its cost.' (Introduction)
'Emma Batchelor’s debut novel, winner of this year’s The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award, overflows with avowals. Through all the twists and turns of its narrative – a story built from real journal entries and emails kept by the author over a period of years – one constant is the phrase “I love you”. (Introduction)
