David Marr, one of Australia's foremost writers and thinkers, will be in conversation with Andrew Leigh on the updated edition of his book, My Country: Stories, Essays and Speeches

David Marr is the rarest of breeds: one of Australia’s most unflinching, forensic reporters of political controversy, and one of its most subtle and eloquent biographers. In Marr’s hands, reportage and commentary are elevated to artful and illuminating chronicles of our time.

My Country collects his powerful writing on religion, sex, censorship and the law; striking accounts of leaders, moralists and scandalmongers; and elegant ruminations on the arts and the lives of artists. This updated edition includes reflections on his award-winning history Killing for Country and his explosive investigation of George Pell.

‘This is a book of power and poetry, an essential documenting of this place and of the people, the ideas, the political and cultural transactions in it … Marr is an exceptional writer.’ —Jonathan Green

David Marr’s books include Patrick White: A Life, The High Price of Heaven, Dark Victory (with Marian Wilkinson), Panic, My Country, Killing for Country and six Quarterly Essays. He has written for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Saturday Paper, The Monthly and The Guardian and been a reporter for Four Corners and presenter of Media Watch. David now hosts Late Night Live on ABC's Radio National. David is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment, and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT. Before being elected in 2010, Andrew was a Professor of Economics at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences. Andrew is the author of several books, most recently Battlers and Billionaires: The Updated Story of Inequality in Australia.

The vote of thanks will be given by Allan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs Program at the Australia Institute,

This event is in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop. Books will be available for purchase. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm and again after the event.

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A podcast will be made available after the event.

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