Stephen Orr was born in Adelaide in 1967, studied science and education and taught in a range of country and metropolitan schools. One of his early plays, Attempts to Draw Jesus, became his first novel, shortlisted for the Australian/Vogel's Literary Award. Since then he has published ten novels (most recently, Sincerely, Ethel Malley) and two volumes of short stories (Datsunland and The Boy in Time). He has been nominated for awards such as the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, the Miles Franklin Award and the International Dublin Literary Award.
admineversion
'Hill of Grace is a deeply satisfying novel. The large cast of characters and the frequent scene-switching requires the reader to pay attention but it mirrors the way Nathan makes sense of his experiences, piecing them together bit-by-bit. But it's more than a coming-of-age novel; it's also a deft portrait of a community coming to grips with post-war social change, and it depicts the depth of feeling and belief that motivates people of fundamentalist faith.' - Lisa Hill, ANZ Litlovers LitBlog
admineversion
'His prose lovingly packed with particulars, Orr's characters assume poignant life as modernity and old-time religion go head to head in a wonderful period portrait.' - Cath Kenneally