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Another honour for Napoleon literary work

Thursday 7 August 2008

A critically acclaimed biography of French military and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte by University of Newcastle historian Dr Philip Dwyer, has been shortlisted for the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.

Napoleon, 1769-1799: The Path to Power is one of seven works shortlisted in the non-fiction category from 103 entries.

Dr Dwyer said he was honoured to have his work shortlisted amongst high-profile literary talent.

"Germaine Greer and Clive James are both on the shortlist so the competition is intense," he said.

Dr Dwyer said his interest in Napoleon was piqued during his early university studies. "I was inspired by a lecturer who was a specialist in the Napoleonic era during my time in Paris in the late 1980s."

The judging panel called Dr Dwyer's work 'a wonderfully engaging history of Napoleon's first 30 years.

'It gives fascinating accounts of the murky world of Corsican politics, and also of Napoleon's complex relationship with his wife Josephine. The book is meticulously researched, well-written and is a work of significant merit.'

The Prime Minister's Literary Awards are a new initiative celebrating the contribution of Australian literature to the nation's cultural and intellectual life.

A tax free prize of $100,000 will be awarded to the work judged to be of the highest literary merit in each of two categories - fiction and non-fiction.

In April this year, Napoleon, 1769 - 1799 The Path to Power was named joint winner of Australia's richest prize for biographical writing, the National Biography Awards.

Napoleon, 1769 - 1799 The Path to Power is published by Bloomsbury.

Media contact: Dr Philip Dwyer on 02 4921 5211 or Katie Porritt on 02 4921 5120.

See the shortlists of the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards at http://www.arts.gov.au/books/pmliteraryawards/shortlist