Ghost stories are everywhere. In fairytales, folklore, Gothic novels and modern fiction alike. There are the ghosts that plague our minds – old flames, past wrongs and regrets that come to us in the dead of night – and those that haunt history itself, restless spirits that refuse to rest in peace.  

Gather round our metaphorical campfire and hear Leslie Jamison (Splinters), share her moving and revealing piece of original work, responding to the theme ‘Ghosts’. 



Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024. 

Ghost stories are everywhere. In fairytales, folklore, Gothic novels and modern fiction alike. There are the ghosts that plague our minds – old flames, past wrongs and regrets that come to us in the dead of night – and those that haunt history itself, restless spirits that refuse to rest in peace.     Gather round our metaphorical campfire and hear Leslie Jamison (Splinters), share her moving and revealing piece of original work, responding to the theme ‘Ghosts’. 
 
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

Leslie Jamison in Ghosts: An Evening of Storytelling

As AI advances and outstrips our notions of its limits and potential, could it capture that essential, undefinable human quality of great art? And if so, how might we preserve the rights of artists?  

Leading AI experts Marek Kowalkiewicz (The Economy of Algorithms), Toby Walsh (Machines Behaving Badly) and Professor Margaret Cameron, Head of the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at University of Melbourne, speak with Paul Barclay.     

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024. 

As AI advances and outstrips our notions of its limits and potential, could it capture that essential, undefinable human quality of great art? And if so, how might we preserve the rights of artists?     Leading AI experts Marek Kowalkiewicz (The Economy of Algorithms), Toby Walsh (Machines Behaving Badly) and Professor Margaret Cameron, Head of the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at University of Melbourne, speak with Paul Barclay.     
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

The Ghost in the Machines

Ghost stories are everywhere. In fairytales, folklore, Gothic novels and modern fiction alike. There are the ghosts that plague our minds – old flames, past wrongs and regrets that come to us in the dead of night – and those that haunt history itself, restless spirits that refuse to rest in peace. 

Gather round our metaphorical campfire and hear Sinéad Gleeson (Hagstone), share her moving and revealing piece of original work, responding to the theme ‘Ghosts’. 

Ghost stories are everywhere. In fairytales, folklore, Gothic novels and modern fiction alike. There are the ghosts that plague our minds – old flames, past wrongs and regrets that come to us in the dead of night – and those that haunt history itself, restless spirits that refuse to rest in peace. Gather round our metaphorical campfire and hear Sinéad Gleeson (Hagstone), share her moving and revealing piece of original work, responding to the theme ‘Ghosts’.

Sinéad Gleeson in Ghosts: An Evening of Storytelling

The Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature Tony Birch discusses his award-winning novel, Women and Children, with Bec Kavanagh.   

With tender yet forthright prose, Birch unravels the trauma of violence and the power of family in 1960s Fitzroy, writing ‘convincingly on power and the blinding nature of its corruptive forces’ (Sydney Morning Herald).  

Supported by the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

The Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature Tony Birch discusses his award-winning novel, Women and Children, with Bec Kavanagh.   
With tender yet forthright prose, Birch unravels the trauma of violence and the power of family in 1960s Fitzroy, writing ‘convincingly on power and the blinding nature of its corruptive forces’ (Sydney Morning Herald).     Supported by the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne 
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

Tony Birch: Women and Children

Following the runaway success of Mayflies, three-time Booker nominee Andrew O’Hagan penned another magnificent portrayal of male friendship in his latest book, Caledonian Road. He joins Michael Williams to discuss his biting portrait of British class, politics and money. 

Supported by ARA.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024. 

Following the runaway success of Mayflies, three-time Booker nominee Andrew O’Hagan penned another magnificent portrayal of male friendship in his latest book, Caledonian Road. He joins Michael Williams to discuss his biting portrait of British class, politics and money. 
Supported by ARA. 
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

An Afternoon with Andrew O'Hagan

Join eminent philosopher A.C. Grayling as he delivers an address that draws on a lifetime of thinking and writing about the biggest question of all: how should I live my life?  

Inspired by his work Philosophy and Life, he brings together the ideas of a fantastically eclectic range of writers and thinkers – including Confucius, Nietzsche, Shakespeare and Ursula Le Guin – to examine matters of love, death, courage and wisdom, inviting us to consider for ourselves what constitutes a life truly worth living.    

Supported by the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

Join eminent philosopher A.C. Grayling as he delivers an address that draws on a lifetime of thinking and writing about the biggest question of all: how should I live my life?    Inspired by his work Philosophy and Life, he brings together the ideas of a fantastically eclectic range of writers and thinkers – including Confucius, Nietzsche, Shakespeare and Ursula Le Guin – to examine matters of love, death, courage and wisdom, inviting us to consider for ourselves what constitutes a life truly worth living.    Supported by the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne. Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

AC Grayling: Philosophy and Life

David Marr was shocked to discover that members of his family were officers in the Queensland Native Police, an armed force believed to have massacred some 40,000 First Nations people during the 19th century.   

Killing for Country is his relentless exposé of those forebears and the greed, hatred and violence they let loose. Bringing together his experience as a former lawyer, Marr reveals the brutal fight for possession of a country.   

Marr speaks with host Sally Warhaft about the ghosts of the unresolved frontier wars that haunt us today.  

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024. 

David Marr was shocked to discover that members of his family were officers in the Queensland Native Police, an armed force believed to have massacred some 40,000 First Nations people during the 19th century.      Killing for Country is his relentless exposé of those forebears and the greed, hatred and violence they let loose. Bringing together his experience as a former lawyer, Marr reveals the brutal fight for possession of a country.      Marr speaks with host Sally Warhaft about the ghosts of the unresolved frontier wars that haunt us today.     Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

David Marr: Killing for Country

Resisting cynicism or despair, Festival Curator Mykaela Saunders celebrates the forward-thinking wisdom of ancestors in Always Will Be – a book that “writes Aboriginal people, dreams, radical hope and love into the future” (Natalie Harkin).  

Saunders speaks with Jeanine Leane about imagining a future of sovereignty and self-determination for Goori people in her brilliant collection of speculative fiction. 

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024. 

Resisting cynicism or despair, Festival Curator Mykaela Saunders celebrates the forward-thinking wisdom of ancestors in Always Will Be – a book that “writes Aboriginal people, dreams, radical hope and love into the future” (Natalie Harkin).  
Saunders speaks with Jeanine Leane about imagining a future of sovereignty and self-determination for Goori people in her brilliant collection of speculative fiction. 
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

Mykaela Saunders: Always Will Be

Irish novelist Paul Murray discusses the buzziest word-of-mouth hit of the past year, The Bee Sting. 

Murray's dazzling tragicomedy charts the undoing of a once-prosperous Irish family haunted by the ghosts of the past through the perspective of multiple characters and has been hailed as ‘a 650-page soap opera with a clockwork plot whose delicate mechanism you can’t hear tick’ (Guardian).  

In conversation with Michael Williams, Murray introduces his wise, witty and heart-punching saga to Australia.     

Supported by the Embassy of Ireland. 

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024. 

Irish novelist Paul Murray discusses the buzziest word-of-mouth hit of the past year, The Bee Sting.      Murray's dazzling tragicomedy charts the undoing of a once-prosperous Irish family haunted by the ghosts of the past through the perspective of multiple characters and has been hailed as ‘a 650-page soap opera with a clockwork plot whose delicate mechanism you can’t hear tick’ (Guardian).     In conversation with Michael Williams, Murray introduces his wise, witty and heart-punching saga to Australia.        Supported by the Embassy of Ireland.    Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.

Paul Murray: The Bee Sting

Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide.  

After 235 years of colonisation, who truly gets to be human in so-called Australia?    

Join Wik and South Sea Islander rapper and 2024 Festival Curator Ziggy Ramo, Munanjahli and South Sea Islander author Chelsea Watego, and Egyptian-Australian writer Lamisse Hamouda, with host Osman Faruqi as they read original work, considering who gets to be human in today’s world and how we can confront the past to finally move forward.    

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024. 

If you need assistance, you can learn more and seek advice via the following resources -  

Lifeline: 13 11 14  

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800  

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467  

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36  

Headspace: 1800 650 890   

Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide.  
After 235 years of colonisation, who truly gets to be human in so-called Australia?    
Join Wik and South Sea Islander rapper and 2024 Festival Curator Ziggy Ramo, Munanjahli and South Sea Islander author Chelsea Watego, and Egyptian-Australian writer Lamisse Hamouda, with host Osman Faruqi as they read original work, considering who gets to be human in today’s world and how we can confront the past to finally move forward.    
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2024.  
If you need assistance, you can learn more and seek advice via the following resources -  
<a href="http://www.lifeline.org.au/">Lifeline:</a> 13 11 14  
<a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/">Kids Helpline:</a> 1800 551 800  
<a href="http://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/">Suicide Call Back Service:</a> 1300 659 467  
<a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">Beyond Blue:</a> 1300 22 46 36  
<a href="https://www.headspace.org.au/">Headspace:</a> 1800 650 890

Who Gets to be Human?

Australia's boldest literary festival.

Melbourne Writers Festival

Conversations from Australia's boldest literary festival.

Conversations from Australia's boldest literary festival.

Melbourne Writers Festival

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