How Does Thomas Kneally Influence Australia

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Over 50 years ago Thomas Keneally wrote his first novel, ‘The Place at Whitton’. Since that time he has written 35 novels, 18 non fiction books, 5 screenplays and 5 plays. He has been shortlisted for the Miles Franklin award five times and won it twice. His books have been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize four times and he has won it once. He has won the Prime Ministers Literary Award, the New South Wales Premiers Literary Award and the LA Times Book of the year. He is an Officer for the Order of Australia.

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s 63rd Annual Literary Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony. My name is Henry Waller and I am Chairman of the Literary Hall of Fame. Tonight, I would like to tell you why internationally renowned Australian author, Thomas Keneally, is a worthy author to be inducted into the Literary Hall of Fame.

Here are just some of the reasons why. First, Mr. Keneally’s novels deal with classic themes in new ways. His books choose sides in the fight between good and evil, or explore the problem of a person having to choose right or wrong. Second, his novels leave a lasting impact on his readers and they are enjoyable and entertaining. Third, Mr. Keneally has the skill to not be restricted by only one genre and has the ability to write across many different genres. These reasons are captured in Mr. Keneally’s most popular novel, ‘Schindler’s Ark’ when Oskar Schindler says, “The unconditional surrender of Germany has just been announced. At midnight tonight, the war is over. Tomorrow you'll begin the process of looking for survivors of your families. In most cases … you won't find them. After six long years of murder, victims are being mourned throughout the world. We've survived. Many of you have come up to me and thanked me. Thank yourselves. Thank your fearless Stern, and others among you who worried about you and faced death at every moment. I am a member of the Nazi Party. I'm a munitions manufacturer. I'm a profiteer of slave labor. I am … a criminal. At midnight, you'll be free and I'll be hunted. I shall remain with you until five minutes after midnight, after which time – and I hope you'll forgive me – I have to flee.” His books explore the “big” themes of cultural conflict and clashes, war, religion, racism, violence, loss and abandonment. Well known examples include award winning books of ‘Gossip from the Forest’, ‘Confederates’ and ‘The Widow and Her Hero’. In ‘Schindler’s Ark’ as we just heard, Oskar Schindler, a Nazi Party member, saves the lives of 1,200 Jewish people during the Holocaust by using
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Thomas Keneally’s books are universally praised by critics and are admired by readers throughout the world. He has influenced many writers around the world, including the Booker Prize winning authors of Richard Flanagan and Peter Carey. Richard Flanagan recently said, “In Tom Keneally, we have the first professional literary writer in our history who sustained himself for a lifetime from his writings.” In my opinion Mr. Thomas Keneally is worthy to be inducted into the Literary Hall of Fame. He will be remembered for the countless stories that made people think, the many award winning books he has written, and he will continue to be read for a long

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