Marija Peričić wins the 2017 Vogel's Literary Award

Marija Peričić has been named the winner of this year’s Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award for her novel, The Lost Pages, an intriguing exploration of Czech writer Franz Kafka.

It is 1908, and Max Brod is the rising star of Prague’s literary world. Everything he desires – fame, respect, love – is finally within his reach. But when a rival appears on the scene, Max discovers how quickly he can lose everything he has worked so hard to attain. He knows that the newcomer, Franz Kafka, has the power to eclipse him for good, and he must decide to what lengths he will go to hold onto his success. But there is more to Franz than meets the eye, and Max, too, has secrets that are darker than even he knows, secrets that may in the end destroy both of them.

In this inspired novel of friendship, fraud, madness and betrayal, Peričić writes vividly and compellingly of an extraordinary literary rivalry.

Award Judge and literary editor of The Australian Stephen Romei says: ‘To frame The Lost Pages as being about Brod is clever and interesting. The Kafka we meet here is almost the opposite of the one we have come to expect.’

Four other writers were shortlisted alongside Pericic:

  • Richard James for Australia’s War With France: The Campaign is Syria and Lebanon, 1941
  • David Allan-Petale for Locust Summer
  • Jarrah Dund­ler for Tryst
  • Hayley Lawrence for Inside the Tiger

Peričić grew up in Perth, Western Australia, the child of German and Croatian immigrants. She holds a Masters degree in English Literature. She now lives in Melbourne where she teaches English as a foreign language. As the winner, Peričić will receives $20,000 prize money and publication by Allen & Unwin.

The Vogel is notable for launching the careers of several prominent Australian authors, such as Tim Winton, Kate Grenville and Gillian Mears. Find out more here.

Cover image for The Lost Pages

The Lost Pages

Marija Pericic

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