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Miles Franklin: A Short Biography
A classic, accessible award-winning biography of Australia's most iconic author, leading feminist and humanitarian.
'To meet Miles Franklin was as invigorating as to ride on a spring morning across the Monaro plains she so dearly loved,' wrote Henrietta Drake-Brockman. Author, union organiser, WWI volunteer, women's rights agitator, nationalist, Miles Franklin worked, wrote and talked for many causes, none more passionately than Australian literature. Propelled to fame aged only twenty-one in the wake of her bestselling novel My Brilliant Career, she never again achieved the same literary success, but her life was rich and productive. She published sixteen novels, numerous non-fiction books and articles, and maintained a prolific and entertaining correspondence with friends and acquaintances. If her extraordinary achievements in life were not enough, her endowment of the Miles Franklin Literary Award on her death ensured she would never be forgotten. In 2013 the 'Stella Prize' for Australian Women's Writing, named in honour of Stella Maria 'Miles' Franklin, was awarded for the first time, gilding her reputation further. WINNER Queensland Premier's Literary Award 2009 South Australian Premier's Prize for Non-Fiction 2010 Magarey Medal for Biography 2010 PRAISE ' ... this shorter, tighter version should find a larger audience among readers who want to understand Franklin's extraordinary life and work' Dr Rachel Franks, Dictionary of Sydney 'Roe's mighty biography of a woman who was pivotal to the culture during a formative period of Australian literary life is meticulous and welcome' Hilary McPhee, The Australian 'a long-awaited and splendidly breezy blockbuster biography of the indefatigable, self-inventing and campaigning author of My Brilliant Career' Richard Holmes, Australian Book Review
'To meet Miles Franklin was as invigorating as to ride on a spring morning across the Monaro plains she so dearly loved,' wrote Henrietta Drake-Brockman. Author, union organiser, WWI volunteer, women's rights agitator, nationalist, Miles Franklin worked, wrote and talked for many causes, none more passionately than Australian literature. Propelled to fame aged only twenty-one in the wake of her bestselling novel My Brilliant Career, she never again achieved the same literary success, but her life was rich and productive. She published sixteen novels, numerous non-fiction books and articles, and maintained a prolific and entertaining correspondence with friends and acquaintances. If her extraordinary achievements in life were not enough, her endowment of the Miles Franklin Literary Award on her death ensured she would never be forgotten. In 2013 the 'Stella Prize' for Australian Women's Writing, named in honour of Stella Maria 'Miles' Franklin, was awarded for the first time, gilding her reputation further. WINNER Queensland Premier's Literary Award 2009 South Australian Premier's Prize for Non-Fiction 2010 Magarey Medal for Biography 2010 PRAISE ' ... this shorter, tighter version should find a larger audience among readers who want to understand Franklin's extraordinary life and work' Dr Rachel Franks, Dictionary of Sydney 'Roe's mighty biography of a woman who was pivotal to the culture during a formative period of Australian literary life is meticulous and welcome' Hilary McPhee, The Australian 'a long-awaited and splendidly breezy blockbuster biography of the indefatigable, self-inventing and campaigning author of My Brilliant Career' Richard Holmes, Australian Book Review
- GenresNonfiction
432 pages, Paperback
Published October 22, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 16, 2019
The biographer put so much detail into this book that it was difficult to find any of the essence of Miles Franklin herself. The book is dotted throughout with dates and names that detract from the enjoyment of the character.
Nevertheless it is clear that Miles Franklin was an extraordinary woman of her times, writing continuously most of her life under various pseudonyms.
Sadly she did not seem to derive much of an income from her writing and much of it was not accepted by publishers.
Although it was said that she liked to 'flirt', Miles Franklin never seemed to form a relationship with any man and certainly never married.
She travelled quite widely between Australia, Britain and the US, returning finally to Australia where she had to look after her ageing parents. It appears from her diaries that she suffered from major depression for extended periods of time and had significant ailments, including shocking dental problems which ultimately required dentures.
Nevertheless it is clear that Miles Franklin was an extraordinary woman of her times, writing continuously most of her life under various pseudonyms.
Sadly she did not seem to derive much of an income from her writing and much of it was not accepted by publishers.
Although it was said that she liked to 'flirt', Miles Franklin never seemed to form a relationship with any man and certainly never married.
She travelled quite widely between Australia, Britain and the US, returning finally to Australia where she had to look after her ageing parents. It appears from her diaries that she suffered from major depression for extended periods of time and had significant ailments, including shocking dental problems which ultimately required dentures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2025
If this is "A Short Biography", I'd hate to see the long one.
Smallish font on 432 pages, it took me longer than I expected to finish but I couldn't stop reading.
What a full life that woman lived.
Not satisfied with the expected, woman's lot in life, determined to be independent, she set out to find her own way.
Always active, always writing, never feeling like she'd done enough, even while she was working so hard as one of many helping to push the movements to improve women's and workers' rights.
Smallish font on 432 pages, it took me longer than I expected to finish but I couldn't stop reading.
What a full life that woman lived.
Not satisfied with the expected, woman's lot in life, determined to be independent, she set out to find her own way.
Always active, always writing, never feeling like she'd done enough, even while she was working so hard as one of many helping to push the movements to improve women's and workers' rights.
August 18, 2018
I borrowed this book from my public library believing I was reading the full biography. It turns out it is an abridged version, hence the one star rating. Back to the library it goes.
I’m sure the full version is a five star rating and I’m happy to assess it and rate it in its fullness. It pays to read back book covers.
I’m sure the full version is a five star rating and I’m happy to assess it and rate it in its fullness. It pays to read back book covers.
January 26, 2021
4.5 stars
I enjoyed this biography of Miles, particularly as it is thoroughly researched and based on her writing, letters (Miles was a great letter writer), and diaries.
What a full and interesting life she led!
I enjoyed this biography of Miles, particularly as it is thoroughly researched and based on her writing, letters (Miles was a great letter writer), and diaries.
What a full and interesting life she led!
August 5, 2024
Poor Miles thought she was a failure, and then opportunists cashed in after her death. Typical
August 22, 2018
FINALLY.
I sometimes find biographies and non-fiction hard to read because of the dryness and the "and then and then and then" and this wasn't an exception to that. Also there was a damn lot of people mentioned that I have no contextual placing for. I recognised the requisite people like Henry Lawson, Banjo Patterson and Emmeline Pankhurst but otherwise there was a lot of people, who were probably people of some significance that I just didn't have an reference for because my knowledge of Australian history in the first half of the last century is thin at best.
However that doesn't take away at all from what Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin's achievements and personality detailed in the pages. Her warmth and vitality is evident through the detailing of her female friendships and her flirtations with men. Her choices are recognisably revolutionary for the time she lived. Her life is one worthy of recognition.
I won't lie. I picked up this book for purely shallow reasons. Miles looks like a damn boss on the cover. And words like feminist, activist and literary legend blazoned across the front are like calling cards to get me instantly interested. I've actually never read anything by Miles Franklin, nor have I watched the film version of her classic My Brilliant Career and while I have heard of the award set up in her name, I have never followed the winners in any way. But this biography truely highlights why the Miles Franklin award is such a significant tribute to ones memory and legacy.
There are, of course, the regulatory evidence of the thinking of the time. For all that Miles was a feminist, she is also hindered by that thinking, though sympathetic to the countries treatment of the Australian indigenous population in her correspondence she doesn't seem to advocate for the improvement of their situation as she does with (white) women and that of the writer.
All in all a beautifully written depiction of Australian history and an australian legend.
I sometimes find biographies and non-fiction hard to read because of the dryness and the "and then and then and then" and this wasn't an exception to that. Also there was a damn lot of people mentioned that I have no contextual placing for. I recognised the requisite people like Henry Lawson, Banjo Patterson and Emmeline Pankhurst but otherwise there was a lot of people, who were probably people of some significance that I just didn't have an reference for because my knowledge of Australian history in the first half of the last century is thin at best.
However that doesn't take away at all from what Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin's achievements and personality detailed in the pages. Her warmth and vitality is evident through the detailing of her female friendships and her flirtations with men. Her choices are recognisably revolutionary for the time she lived. Her life is one worthy of recognition.
I won't lie. I picked up this book for purely shallow reasons. Miles looks like a damn boss on the cover. And words like feminist, activist and literary legend blazoned across the front are like calling cards to get me instantly interested. I've actually never read anything by Miles Franklin, nor have I watched the film version of her classic My Brilliant Career and while I have heard of the award set up in her name, I have never followed the winners in any way. But this biography truely highlights why the Miles Franklin award is such a significant tribute to ones memory and legacy.
There are, of course, the regulatory evidence of the thinking of the time. For all that Miles was a feminist, she is also hindered by that thinking, though sympathetic to the countries treatment of the Australian indigenous population in her correspondence she doesn't seem to advocate for the improvement of their situation as she does with (white) women and that of the writer.
All in all a beautifully written depiction of Australian history and an australian legend.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews