Two University of Tasmania alumni are in the running for Australia’s biggest literary prize.
Arts graduates Robbie Arnott and Adam Ouston have made the longlist for the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
Arnott’s acclaimed Limberlost, which he wrote during his time as inaugural The Hedberg Writer-in-Residence, has been listed, along with Ouston’s debut novel Waypoints.
They are among 11 works listed for the prestigious $60,000 award.
Arnott’s listing comes after Limberlost was also named The Age Fiction Book of the Year earlier this month.
“It's an honour to receive this award,” he said of The Age award.
“I wrote Limberlost while I was the at the University as part of the Hedberg Writer-in-Residence program, which is one of the best things to ever happen to my career.”
Limberlost is the third novel from Arnott, who completed a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business at the University of Tasmania in 2012.
Based on his grandfather’s life, it tells the story of teenager Ned on his family’s Tasmanian orchard during World War II.
The book will be the first to be read as part of the University’s Tasmania Reads Book Club during June and July.
Robbie Arnott will take part in an in-conversation event as part of the book club on July 26.
Ouston, who won the University of Tasmania Manuscript Prize in 2017, completed a PhD in 2013.
Waypoints charts the obsession of world-weary circus family scion Bernard Cripp with Harry Houdini’s ill-fated attempt to become the first person to fly across Australia.
The Miles Franklin’s shortlisted finalists will be revealed on June 20 and the winner announced on July 25.