Awards: Patrick White Winner

Poet, essayist, scriptwriter and performer Samuel Wagan Watson won the 2018 Patrick White Literary Award, honoring an author who has " made a significant but inadequately recognized contribution to Australian literature." Established by Patrick White with the proceeds of his 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature, the award is worth A$20,000 (about US$14,430). Books + Publishing noted that Watson "is the second Indigenous writer to win the award in its 45-year history, after Tony Birch was awarded the prize in 2017."

"I am humbled by their decision and it is difficult to convey the emotional impact of this prestigious award on myself, my wonderful family and my community," Watson said. "Patrick White is a major figure in Australian literature and I am honored to be recognized alongside his name. It provides me with a deep sense of personal satisfaction for what I spend a great deal of my time thinking about and putting to the page for my readers.... The award is a great motivator for me to continue writing and expressing how I perceive, and how we all relate to, the cultures and communities around us."

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