Commonwealth Writers’ Prize winner Catherine Chidgey’s 9th novel, The Book of Guilt, sparked an international bidding war.

With undertones of Shirley Jackson and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, the story’s teenage triplets discover – when the government decides to shut down their home – that some lives are valued more than others in this dystopian 1970s England.

Join Catherine, in conversation with Beejay Silcox, to hear about her deeply unnerving new novel.

This episode was recorded live in May at the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.

Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms. 

After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media:

Instagram: @sydwritersfest
Facebook: @SydWritersFest
TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Commonwealth Writers&rsquo; Prize winner Catherine Chidgey&rsquo;s 9th novel, The Book of Guilt, sparked an international bidding war.
With undertones of Shirley Jackson and Kazuo Ishiguro&rsquo;s Never Let Me Go, the story&rsquo;s teenage triplets discover &ndash; when the government decides to shut down their home &ndash; that some lives are valued more than others in this dystopian 1970s England.
Join Catherine, in conversation with Beejay Silcox, to hear about her deeply unnerving new novel.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2025 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.&nbsp;
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media: Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

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