Readings and Writings: Forty Years in Books

Since opening in 1969, Readings has grown to become one of the most renowned and beloved bookshops in Melbourne and a landmark on the local literary scene. From the first small shop on Lygon Street to its current six locations around town, the shop has long been a focus for local literature, art and culture.

Readings and Writings is a collection of new Australian short stories from writers who have been involved with Readings over the years. All have contributed freely to celebrate the shop and its achievements, and to assist The Readings Foundation in supporting literacy, the arts and the community.

Featuring new stories from Alex Miller, Peter Goldsworthy, Cate Kennedy, Christos Tsiolkas, Mark Seymour, Paddy O’Reilly, Chris Womersley, Kate Holden, Elliot Perlman, Myfanwy Jones, Tony Birch, Steven Amsterdam and more.

All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to The Readings Foundation.

Foreword by Mark Rubbo, introduction by Shane Maloney and stories by:

Alex Miller
Cate Kennedy
Robert Egan
Chris Womersley
Jenny Sinclair
Michael McGirrv
Peter Goldsworthy
Josephine Rowe
Christos Tsiolkas
Myfanwy Jones
Kalinda Ashton
Mark Seymour
Barry Divola
Amy Tsilemanis
Louise Swinn
Chris Grierson
Elliot Perlman
Paddy O'Reilly
Miles Allinson
Tony Birch
Catherine Harris
Paul Mitchell
David Cohen
Leanne Hall
Kate Holden
Steven Amsterdam

See the full cover image by James Gulliver Hancock here.

See independent reviews at The Enthusiast and LiteraryMinded on Crikey.

Read editor Jason Cotter's account of editing the book and see the photo shoot with the writers and editors of the anthology here.