In Conversation with Kerrie Davies

Kerrie Davies will be in conversation with Michelle Staff on her new book Miles Franklin Undercover The little-known years when she created her own brilliant career – A powerful story of a young woman's enduring resilience, and her determination to always be her own heroine. – Allen & Unwin.

About the Book

After the success and celebrity of her coming-of-age novel My Brilliant Career, published when Miles Franklin was only 21, she disappeared. This is the story of the decade that made her second career as a fearless advocate for working women.

'There is a theory that any woman can be rescued from the shoals of failure and despair by finding some man to ask her in marriage, but before I could be happy in love I should at least need to realise myself.'

She dazzled Australia with her rebellious novel My Brilliant Career, inspiring generations of young women chafing under conventional expectations. Only 21, Miles Franklin was lauded as the Bronte of the bush and feted by the rich and influential.

But fame can be deceptive. In reality, the book earned her a pittance. The family farm was sold, her new novels were rejected, and she was broke. Just two years after her debut, Miles disappeared.

In this real-life sequel to My Brilliant Career, author Kerrie Davies uncovers a little-known period in Miles' life, from the servant's quarters of Sydney and Melbourne's wealthy houses to volatile Chicago, in the turbulent years after her early success. Davies draws on a never-before-published manuscript and diary extracts from Miles' year undercover as a servant, intimate correspondence with poet Banjo Paterson, and archival sources from Australia and Chicago.

'A fascinating page turner.' - Gillian Armstrong AM

'I now feel I know Miles intimately' - Jane Caro AM

'A triumph of enthralling storytelling.' - Sue Williams

'Evocative and richly drawn, this sparkling book shows us a side to the great literary heroine that is darker and even more interesting than many Australians know.' - Jacqueline Maley

'A captivating read – Miles comes alive.' - Brigitta Olubas

'A fascinating story of an embattled talent' - Sydney Morning Herald

About Kerrie Davies

Kerrie Davies is the author of A Wife's Heart, that created national discussion about the iconic poet Henry Lawson and his marriage. She has appeared at the Sydney and Brisbane Writers Festivals, and the National Folk festival, Canberra. A former journalist for Vogue and the Sunday Telegraph, Kerrie is Senior Lecturer at the School of the Arts & Media, UNSW Sydney, a 2024 Visiting Fellow at the State Library of New South Wales, and writes for the Conversation.

About Michelle Staff

Dr Michelle Staff is a feminist historian living on Ngunnawal/Ngambri Country in Canberra. She is the online and outreach manager for the Australian Dictionary of Biography and the 2025 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellow.

About the Event

• Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

• Registration is required for this event.

• Accessible parking spaces directly below the Harry Hartog ANU Bookshop are available should you require them. Kambri ANU / Parking

• If you do not feel well, please refrain from attending this event.

• Disability Access available - please ask in-store.