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About the award
Established in 1957 by writer Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, this prestigious literary prize has been a quintessential staple in the Australian literacy landscape for the past 68 years.
Stella Miles Franklin created this award with the aim of advancing, improving and bettering Australian literature.
The Miles Franklin is awarded annually to novels with the highest literary merit, that embody and capture the essence of Australian life.
2025 Shortlisted Novels
The judging panel for this year’s award has stated, “The Shortlist for the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award celebrates writing that refuses to compromise. Each of these works vitalizes the form of the novel and invents new languages for the Australian experience.”
With that resounding commendation, Vision Australia encourages readers to explore these 2025 pinnacles of Australian storytelling.
First Time Nominees
Dirt Poor Islanders by Winnie Dunn is the author’s debut novel that centres around the intergenerational and interconnected life of a diasporic teenager living in Western Sydney suburbia. It provides an unflinchingly honest and charmingly robust narrative about the endurance of familial love within the Australian Tongan experience.
Ghost Cities by Siang Lu offers a uniquely intriguing reading experience, as the story is told in two parts: the first following a modern day Sydney man in his relocation to one of the titular ‘Ghost Cities’, and the second part set within ancient China, during the time of emperors.
Previously Shortlisted Authors
Compassion by Julie Janson is the second instalment of the ‘Benevolence’ series, set amidst the colourful backdrop of Australia’s storied past. This novel features an exciting outlaw adventure, and a window into the complexity of Aboriginal Australian women’s lives within colonial New South Wales during the 1800s.
Chinese Postman by Brian Castro is a quietly intense story for introspective readers. It explores the life of a retired Adelaide professor who, after reaching his mid-70s, is searching for and attempting to understand how to once again feel fulfilled in his life, when his previous pursuits and relationships have lost their lustre.
Highway 13 by Fiona McFarlane is a compelling read for crime fiction enthusiasts. Comprised of a set of short stories, all revolving around a fictional Sydney serial killer. Told through alternating perspectives of the people surrounding the killer and how they are impacted by his actions, reputation and presence.
Dual Winner of the Prize
Theory & Practice is the last title on the 2025 shortlist, authored by Michelle de Kretser, who has been a previous two-time winner of the Miles Franklin award. This novel opens in 1980s St Kilda and follows the newly thrilling life of a young Sydney migrant, who becomes inextricably linked to Melbourne’s elite in many thrilling, conflicting and dynamic ways. She in turn grows, learns and unlearns many things about herself, her relationships and the societal expectations she must face.
The 2025 Winner will be announced on July 24, 2025
To access copies of the shortlisted novels, click on the book title link and this will take you to Vision Australia’s online library catalogue. Please note, Dirt Poor Islanders will soon become available on the library catalogue, and Chinese Postman is currently being recorded in the Vision Australia studios.