Book Week 2019 is upon us and to get us into the mood, we asked some of our writers to suggest their favourite book (or two).
In 1993, this “terrorist” organisation took down Barbie
The Barbie Liberation Organisation was motivated by a singular pursuit: freeing Barbie, GI Joe and their owners from manufactured gender stereotyping.
Legendary composer Elliott Gyger discusses his new opera, Oscar and Lucinda
Dr Elliott Gyger is one of our most esteemed composers. He sat down with us to talk about the challenges of converting a piece of literature into an operatic work.
The moon landing recollections 50 years on
Today marks 48 years since Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin took that famous small step for all of us. The grip of wonder and confusion still holds me, as it did in 1969.
Angry, surly, sans pants: Donald Duck turns 85
Donald Duck is a man (well, duck) of few children, less patience and zero pants. Today is he turns 85. Cheer up, mate.
Anne of Cleves: The luckiest of all Henry VIII’s wives
The fourth wife of Henry VIII, Anne of Cleves, is not well noted in history. She was a stranger in a strange land, a bride of an unconsummated marriage. At least she kept her head.
Did Albert Einstein cheat his wife, Mileva Marić, out of a Nobel prize?
Mileva Marić Einstein, a gifted scientist in her own right, may have played a bigger role in Einstein’s work than we know, with some believing that his famous theory of relativity was actually hers.
The creator of Mother’s Day fought men and hated what it became
Even the founder of Mother’s Day decided the day had become too commercialised. Should we too be thinking about the real meaning of the day?
Japan’s mysterious tsuchinoko: Real or nah?
The Tsuchinoko is a legendary figure in Japan. Akin to our bunyip, many endeavouring souls have attempted to prove its existence – with varying degrees of success.
Bringing glitz to the battlefield: Saluting the entertainers who travelled to a war zone
Today we salute those who travelled to war, not to fight it, but to entertain those who did. For some, it was no less dangerous.
Clicking keys behind bars: The writers who experienced prison
As a fictional Hunter S. Thompson once said, many fine books have been written in prison. With that being said, here are some writers you should consider sending them a cake with a file in it.
Waltzing Matilda: Origins of the sheep larcenist we took to our bosom
Waltzing Matilda is a towering figure in the national psyche, however, his origin is something else entirely.
Know who you’re slaying: Charybdis and Scylla
Being between Scylla and Charybdis was the ancient Greek equivalent of being between a rock and a hard place. Except with more teeth.
These Australian women dominated Hollywood before Hollywood
Long before famous Australian actresses shook up Hollywood, these pioneering legends of cinema were showing their talent to the world.
Five highly unusual pets of five extremely notable artists
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the stranger the person, the stranger the pet they own. This certainly holds true for the artists of yesteryear.
Dave Brubeck: The white jazz musician who fought segregation
Dave Brubeck was one of the most popular jazz musicians of the fifties, but it was his refusal to play in segregated venues that he should be remembered for.
Decoding the messages left in ancient art
Art not only enriches our lives, it can be deeply informative. Art from ancient times is often a window through which we can learn about life, culture and the belief systems of people who lived thousands of years ago.
The extremely weird traits of extremely famous creatives
Brussel sprouts, rotten fruit in a drawer, lederhosen kink. It seems the more creative an artist is, the more creative they are with their habits.
Lin Xing Yu: The artist immortalising Sydney in MS Paint
MS Paint might be a relic of bygone technology, but one Sydney artist has chosen to immortalise his hometown in that dead medium.
Happy birthday to Johnny O’Keefe, Australia’s wild one
Johnny O’Keefe was one of kind, and absolutely ours. Happy Birthday, wild one.
Country songs, designer clothes, bondage: Percy Grainger was one-of-a-kind
A man of great genius and eccentricity, Percy Grainger is our of our most oft-forgotten notable figures. Pay him his due…or he may whip you.
Dead relatives, whale blubber and a defecating log: Here’s how they’re celebrating Christmas elsewhere
The big day is finally here. But while you’re fighting with your relatives over the same old issues, Christmas in far-flung places is far crazier than yours.
