Australian author to speak, sign books at MU

Prize-winning Australian author Peter Carey, known for “Oscar and Lucinda” and “True History of the Kelly Gang” as well as other books, will speak Thursday evening at MU.

A reception, book sale and book signing sponsored by the University Bookstore will follow Carey’s speech.

The Center for Literary Arts holds a reading series each year, inviting speakers who are of interest to faculty members and students. Carey has many admirers, both in the creative writing program at the university and in the community at large, said Brian Barker, the center’s assistant director.

“Anytime we have an opportunity to bring an internationally known writer of his caliber, it’s a great opportunity to hear someone who has a different world experience and a different perspective of how the world works,” Barker said.

Organizers of the event are expecting between 100 and 200 people to attend. Representatives from the University Bookstore will have copies of eight of Carey’s novels that people can buy and get signed.

Carey has won numerous awards for his books, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize twice, in 1998 for “Jack Maggs” and in 2001 for “True History of the Kelly Gang.” The prize, given to authors of Commonwealth countries, including Australia, has been awarded since 1987 to encourage and reward new authors and their work.

Carey has also received the Booker Prize twice, in 1988 for “Oscar and Lucinda,” which was later adapted into a film, and in 2001 for “True History of the Kelly Gang.” The prize has been given since 1968 for the best fiction novel written by a citizen of a Commonwealth country.

Carey has written eight novels, a children’s book, four short story collections, two nonfiction books with another in the works, a screen play, three film adaptations and other short stories. He is also a creative writing teacher at New York University.