In an age of celebrity endorsements, book-club picks and Amazon reviews, what is the state of once-vital literary criticism? How has the importance of robust and informed evaluation changed in an ever-crowded publishing market and an online sphere where everyone is potentially a critic? In this two-part series, Sydney Review of Books editor Catriona Menzies-Pike interviews four renowned critics about the future of literary criticism. This episode, Catriona speaks with award-winning literary critics Bernadette Brennan (A Writing Life: Helen Garner and Her Work) and Declan Fry – writer, poet, essayist and proud descendant of the Yorta Yorta. 

In an age of celebrity endorsements, book-club picks and Amazon reviews, what is the state of once-vital literary criticism? How has the importance of robust and informed evaluation changed in an ever-crowded publishing market and an online sphere where everyone is potentially a critic? In this two-part series, Sydney Review of Books editor Catriona Menzies-Pike interviews four renowned critics about the future of literary criticism. This episode, Catriona speaks with award-winning literary critics Bernadette Brennan (A Writing Life: Helen Garner and Her Work) and Declan Fry &ndash; writer, poet, essayist and proud descendant of the Yorta Yorta.&nbsp;

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more. Subscribe to our channel for new releases.

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more. Subscribe to our channel for new releases.

Australia's largest celebration of writing and ideas.

Sydney Writers' Festival

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more.

Critical Condition: Bernadette Brennan & Declan Fry

There used to be a time when political leaders didn’t limit themselves to an election cycle.

In his latest book, Grand Ambition, international affairs expert and historian James Curran draws on never-before-seen archival documents and extensive interviews to present former prime minister Paul Keating’s dynamic, compelling and contested vision for Australia’s role on the world stage.

Listen in as Curran and Keating reflect on the bold politics of the past and ask how we should approach questions of independence, security and identity in these turbulent and unpredictable times.

Hear Paul Keating and James Curran for a fascinating in-depth analysis of Australia’s national identity and its place in the world.

This episode was recorded live at a Sydney Writers' Festival event at City Recital Hall in September 2026.

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

There used to be a time when political leaders didn&rsquo;t limit themselves to an election cycle. In his latest book, Grand Ambition, international affairs expert and historian James Curran draws on never-before-seen archival documents and extensive interviews to present former prime minister Paul Keating&rsquo;s dynamic, compelling and contested vision for Australia&rsquo;s role on the world stage. Listen in as Curran and Keating reflect on the bold politics of the past and ask how we should approach questions of independence, security and identity in these turbulent and unpredictable times. Hear Paul Keating and James Curran for a fascinating in-depth analysis of Australia&rsquo;s national identity and its place in the world.
This episode was recorded live at a Sydney Writers' Festival event at City Recital Hall in September 2026.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;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

Grand Ambition: Paul Keating and James Curran in Conversation

Two motherless girls begin their lives in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, but they take paths that are worlds apart.

Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, winner of the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, has written another unforgettable story. Her new novel, Kin, centres a complex relationship between childhood best friends, showing how the bonds between mothers, daughters and friends are tested by affluence and inequality, love and desire and a wide world of adventure.

Hear Tayari talking with Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Shankari Chandran about her rich and emotional new work.

This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 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

Two motherless girls begin their lives in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, but they take paths that are worlds apart.
Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, winner of the 2019 Women&rsquo;s Prize for Fiction, has written another unforgettable story. Her new novel,&nbsp;Kin, centres a complex relationship between childhood best friends, showing how the bonds between mothers, daughters and friends are tested by affluence and inequality, love and desire and a wide world of adventure.
Hear Tayari talking with Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Shankari Chandran about her rich and emotional new work.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;
Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Tayari Jones: Kin

Louisa goes for a walk along the beach with her father, but only she returns.

The new novel from Susan Choi, multi-award-winning writer including the National Book Award and a Lambda Literary Award, is a sweeping, international family drama that was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. Flashlight, described by The Guardian as a return to the great American novel of the 20th century, beguiled readers for its examination of absence and silence in a small family rocked by the assumed death of Louisa’s father.

Listen to Susan as discuss relationships and alienation in her new novel, in conversation with Beejay Silcox.

This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 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

Louisa goes for a walk along the beach with her father, but only she returns.
The new novel from Susan Choi, multi-award-winning writer including the National Book Award and a Lambda Literary Award, is a sweeping, international family drama that was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. Flashlight, described by&nbsp;The Guardian as a return to the great American novel of the 20th century, beguiled readers for its examination of absence and silence in a small family rocked by the assumed death of Louisa&rsquo;s father.
Listen to Susan as discuss relationships and alienation in her new novel, in conversation with Beejay Silcox.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;
Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Critical Condition: Bernadette Brennan & Declan Fry

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