The First Time

S6 Ep249: Masters Series: Richard Flanagan


Listen Later

This is a conversation Kate has been waiting years to have. She spoke to Richard Flanagan at the end of his most recent tour, in person at State Library Victoria.

Richard Flanagan's novels have received numerous honours and are published in forty-two countries. He won the Booker Prize for The Narrow Road to the Deep North and the Commonwealth Prize for Gould’s Book of Fish. A rapid on the Franklin River is named after him. His latest book is Question 7

Kate and Richard discuss:

  • wanting to be a writer at four years old and writing stories for his sister
  • getting his debut novel Death of a River Guide written and published 
  • writing a 'memoir' for conman John Friedrich which Flanagan went on to fictionalise in his novel First Person
  • On structure and form: 'A novel without form is like a jellyfish, it lacks spine and movement. A novel should be a Great White Pointer - it has to move and it has to excite and it has to surprise.'
  • Working around writing with a young family
  • Collaboration with his publisher Nikki Christer 
  • The influence of Yolgnu writer Siena Stubbs who introduced Flanagan to the idea of a 'fourth tense' in Yolgnu language
  • Richard's article and speech Does Writing Matter in 2016
  • Donating prizing money (and the picture with Abbott!) and his father's philosophy on money
  • Richard says there 'needs to be a culture change in this country whereby there is a respect accorded writers'
  • Richard's debut recommendation: The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass

    Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).

    You can support us and the making of Season Six via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The First TimeBy The First Time Podcast

    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3

    4.3

    3 ratings


    More shows like The First Time

    View all
    Late Night Live — Full program podcast by ABC

    Late Night Live — Full program podcast

    89 Listeners

    Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast by ABC

    Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast

    45 Listeners

    Casefile True Crime by Casefile Presents

    Casefile True Crime

    36,883 Listeners

    Conversations by ABC

    Conversations

    839 Listeners

    The Readings Podcast by Readings Books

    The Readings Podcast

    3 Listeners

    The Imperfects by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

    The Imperfects

    364 Listeners

    Books, Books, Books by Nicole Abadee

    Books, Books, Books

    2 Listeners

    Read This by Schwartz

    Read This

    14 Listeners

    Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa by Service95

    Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa

    33 Listeners