Kate Grenville in conversation with Caroline Baum

‘I start every book with a question, and the question with this book was, why was my grandmother like that? What had happened in her life to make her cranky and a bit scary?

She’s one of Australia’s most celebrated novelists, author of celebrated works from The Secret River to A Room Made of Leaves. Now, Kate Grenville is out with a new fictional work which attempts to get to the heart of a woman who had a significant, and often intimidating, presence in her life – her nan, Dolly Maunder.

Writes the Guardian, ‘the writing sparkles with Grenville’s gift for transcendently clear imagery…[Restless Dolly Maunder] is a work of history, biography, story and memoir, all fused into a novel that suggests the great potential of literary art as redeemer, healer and pathway to understanding.’

On Thursday 24 August at The Royal Oak, join Grenville in conversation with journalist, broadcaster and author, Caroline Baum.

Copies of Restless Dolly Maunder (out 18 July with Text Publishing) will be available for purchase at the venue through Roaring Stories, with Grenville signing copies after the discussion.

This event will sell out fast, so be sure to book quick!

Attendees are asked to arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Seating is unallocated – another reason to arrive early to secure an optimal spot. Why not make a full evening of it, too, by ordering a meal at the Royal Oak before or after the event? One of Balmain’s oldest and most loved pubs, it serves a delicious range of food and beverages.

If you miss out on a ticket, you can still watch the event as it is livestreamed from the Roaring Stories Facebook page (accessible on the Home page and from the Live tab). A recording will also be available to view later as an upload on the Roaring Stories YouTube channel.