Every biography is shaped by the vantage point of the biographer. But where should that be—safe in the shadows or out on stage with our subjects? David Marr addresses the key challenge of modern biographers: what they do with themselves in their writing?

Chet Van Duzer reveals secrets uncovered by multispectral imaging of the Henricus Martellus World Map, thought to be one of the most important of the 15th century. Dr Martin Woods, Curator of Maps at the National Library and Denyl Cloughley, Manager of Preservation Services, lift the veil on the history and ongoing challenges of preserving the Blaeu wall map of New Holland.

Professor Mark McKenna officially launches A Handful of Sand by Charlie Ward, accompanied by a conversation with Brenda L Croft and John Paul Janke.

Kim Williams AM presents the 2016 Kenneth Myer Lecture Holding To True North: The Promotion of Positive Change in Australia

Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton speaks to Alana Valentine about the making of a stage play based on 20,000 letters sent to Lindy by the public since 1980. Hosted by Canberra Times Arts Editor Sally Pryor.

The Merrigong Theatre Company production, Letters to Lindy, will be performed at Canberra Theatre Centre between 9 and 13 August. Visit the Canberra Theatre Centre website for bookings.

Merrigong Theatre Company, in association with the Canberra Theatre Centre.

Dr Meleah Hampton, Australian War Memorial historian, explores the allied efforts to capture the OG (Old German) trench line near Pozières, France, in 1916. This was among the most costly battles for Australians during the First World War.

In association with the Canberra Great War Study Group, the Estaminet

Peter Porter is considered one of the greatest later twentieth century poets. Expatriate in London since 1951, his reputation was established by his inclusion in the 1961 second volume of the Penguin Modern Poets anthology series. His elegiac poetry following the sudden death in 1974 of his wife Jannice, has been compared to Hardy. Porter was awarded many honours, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and the Gold Medal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. In Britain he was considered an Australian poet, in Australia he was sometimes considered British, although he often returned for visits, and the series of radio dialogues with his fellow expatriate poet Clive James, was broadcast regularly on ABC radio.

The National Library first acquired papers from Peter Porter in 1982, with some small, later additions, also mainly of drafts and notebooks for his writing. The bulk of the papers of Peter Porter were acquired after his death in 2010, and are an astonishing record of Australian cultural and artistic life from the 1970s. Peter was a prolific correspondent and the more than 69 boxes of letters within the papers are ‘who’s who’ of distinguished literary, artistic and cultural figures, with letters from significant artists such as John Olsen and Arthur Boyd, musical figures like Roger Covell and Don Banks, and many other writers, including Les Murray, Shirley Hazzard, Tom Shapcott, David Malouf.

The correspondence reveals Peter’s great encouragement and generosity towards many Australian poets - including Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Gig Ryan, Peter Goldsworthy, Craig Sherborne and Adrian Caesar, who speak at the symposium. Peter’s widow Christine, and his daughters Katherine and Jane, were present at the symposium, which concluded with a moving tribute by his friend Clive James.

Supported by the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust

Peter Porter is considered one of the greatest later twentieth century poets. Expatriate in London since 1951, his reputation was established by his inclusion in the 1961 second volume of the Penguin Modern Poets anthology series. His elegiac poetry following the sudden death in 1974 of his wife Jannice, has been compared to Hardy. Porter was awarded many honours, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and the Gold Medal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. In Britain he was considered an Australian poet, in Australia he was sometimes considered British, although he often returned for visits, and the series of radio dialogues with his fellow expatriate poet Clive James, was broadcast regularly on ABC radio.

The National Library first acquired papers from Peter Porter in 1982, with some small, later additions, also mainly of drafts and notebooks for his writing. The bulk of the papers of Peter Porter were acquired after his death in 2010, and are an astonishing record of Australian cultural and artistic life from the 1970s. Peter was a prolific correspondent and the more than 69 boxes of letters within the papers are ‘who’s who’ of distinguished literary, artistic and cultural figures, with letters from significant artists such as John Olsen and Arthur Boyd, musical figures like Roger Covell and Don Banks, and many other writers, including Les Murray, Shirley Hazzard, Tom Shapcott, David Malouf.

The correspondence reveals Peter’s great encouragement and generosity towards many Australian poets - including Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Gig Ryan, Peter Goldsworthy, Craig Sherborne and Adrian Caesar, who speak at the symposium. Peter’s widow Christine, and his daughters Katherine and Jane, were present at the symposium, which concluded with a moving tribute by his friend Clive James.

Supported by the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust

Peter Porter is considered one of the greatest later twentieth century poets. Expatriate in London since 1951, his reputation was established by his inclusion in the 1961 second volume of the Penguin Modern Poets anthology series. His elegiac poetry following the sudden death in 1974 of his wife Jannice, has been compared to Hardy. Porter was awarded many honours, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and the Gold Medal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. In Britain he was considered an Australian poet, in Australia he was sometimes considered British, although he often returned for visits, and the series of radio dialogues with his fellow expatriate poet Clive James, was broadcast regularly on ABC radio.

The National Library first acquired papers from Peter Porter in 1982, with some small, later additions, also mainly of drafts and notebooks for his writing. The bulk of the papers of Peter Porter were acquired after his death in 2010, and are an astonishing record of Australian cultural and artistic life from the 1970s. Peter was a prolific correspondent and the more than 69 boxes of letters within the papers are ‘who’s who’ of distinguished literary, artistic and cultural figures, with letters from significant artists such as John Olsen and Arthur Boyd, musical figures like Roger Covell and Don Banks, and many other writers, including Les Murray, Shirley Hazzard, Tom Shapcott, David Malouf.

The correspondence reveals Peter’s great encouragement and generosity towards many Australian poets - including Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Gig Ryan, Peter Goldsworthy, Craig Sherborne and Adrian Caesar, who speak at the symposium. Peter’s widow Christine, and his daughters Katherine and Jane, were present at the symposium, which concluded with a moving tribute by his friend Clive James.

Supported by the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust

Virginia Passmore puts the work of fellow Australian geologist Edgeworth David into context.

In association with the Canberra Great War Study Group, the Estaminet