Elizabeth Costello

ElizabethCostelloisanAustralianwriterofinternationalrenown.Famousprincipallyforanearlynovelthatestablishedherreputation,shehasreachedthestagewhereherremainingfunctionistobeveneratedandapplauded.Herlifehasbecomeaseriesofengagementsinsterileconferenceroomsthroughouttheworld-aprivateconsciousnessobligedtorevealitselftoacuriouspublic:thepresentationofamajorawardatanAmericancollegewheresheisrequiredtodeliveralecture;asojournasthewriterinresidenceonacruiseliner;avisittohersister,amissionaryinAfrica,whoisreceivinganhonorarydegree,anoccasionwhichbothrecogniseasthefinalopportunityforeffectingsomeformofreconciliation;andadisquietingappearanceatawriters'conferenceinAmsterdamwhereshefindsthesubjectofhertalkunexpectedlyamongsttheaudience.Shehasmadeherlife'sworkthestudyofotherpeopleyetnowitisshewhoistheobjectofscrutiny.But,forher,whatmattersisthecontinuingsearchforameansofarticulatinghervisionandtheverdictoffuturegenerations.--'OneofCoetzee'sbest-simplyburnswithcreativepassion'D.J.Taylor,Independent--'Animportantbook-Extraordinary'IndependentonSunday--'Probablythebestbookonthe(Booker)longlist,theonethatwilllast-Everywordcounts.Everysentencelives'EveningStandard--'Areadableandengagingbook-Demanding,playful,provocative-hugelyenlighteningandrewarding'SundayTimes--'Richlyrewarding'DailyMail--'Highlyreadableandbracing'Scotsman--'Dealsbravelywithproblemsthatfewotherwritersdaretothinkabout'Telegraph