'A literary tapestry that unfolds like a vibrant mosaic, The Cambridge Companion to the Australian Novel offers a wide-ranging and insightful overview of this rich national literary tradition, inviting readers to wander through the intricate passages of Australian storytelling. Editors Nicholas Birns and Louis Klee have assembled an impressive array of contributors, including eminent scholars and emerging voices, to analyse the historical development and contemporary innovations of the Australian novel. For students new to the field as well as specialists, this volume serves as an indispensable guide to a body of fiction that has gained increasing global prominence.' (Introduction)