The description of José Carlos Somoza’s The Athenian Murders (2002) as "a puzzle swathed in a mystery contained inside an enigma" offers an apt summary of the potential of crime writing. What does the genre offer fiction writers and cultural commentators; how is the legacy of Christie and Sayers being interpreted today? Michelle de Kretser and Somoza give a specific nod to Agatha Christie in their critically acclaimed ‘mystery’ novels, but both depart radically from classic crime writing’s rigid genre rules. With considerable technical innovation they move beyond mere crime ‘solution’ to explore themes as varied and profound as colonialism and class, human exploitation, literary practice, the morality of the art market and the nature of philosophical truth. Similarly, Helen Garner has pioneered a singular and much-debated approach to reporting and reflecting on crime in Australia. In returning victims to the foreground of her analysis, and critiquing the Australian legal system, she too has provided a radical subversion of the literary form.

 

 

Concession Pass to 15 Writers Upfront sessions of your choice: $150 [FR $140]

 

If this event interests you, you may also like Destinations and Imaginative Constructions.

 

15 Mar, 12:30pm