Evelyn Araluen Nominated for Stella Prize with Second Poetry Collection The Rot
Australian poet Evelyn Araluen has been shortlisted for the prestigious Stella prize for her second poetry collection, The Rot, just four years after she made history as the first poet to win the award. The Stella prize, which offers a $60,000 award for Australian women and non-binary writers, announced its shortlist on Wednesday, featuring six standout books from a pool of 212 entries.
Shortlisted Authors and Their Works
The other five books competing for the prize include Geraldine Brooks' memoir Memorial Days, Miranda Darling's novel Fireweather, Lee Lai's graphic novel Cannon, Marika Sosnowski's nonfiction work 58 Facets: On Violence and the Law, and Tasma Walton's novel I Am Nannertgarrook. Each shortlisted author will receive $5,000 in prize money, with the overall winner set to be announced on 13 May 2026.
Background on Evelyn Araluen's Nomination
Araluen, a Goorie and Koori poet, previously won the Stella prize in 2022 for her debut collection, Dropbear. Her latest work, The Rot, has already garnered significant acclaim, securing the top prize at the Victorian premier's literary awards in February, which came with a $125,000 award. The collection delves into themes of grief and solidarity in the digital age, particularly addressing the global horror surrounding Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
Inspiration Behind The Rot
The Rot was inspired by a personal experience Araluen had during Adelaide writers' week in 2024, where she was heckled on stage for referring to Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide. In an interview with Guardian Australia, Araluen described the book as capturing a "panicked, distressed window of a time" and expressed hope that it would serve as a record of uncomfortable truths. She stated, "I tried to make sure that the book very clearly documented that we knew what was happening in our names and we did not stop it."
Other Notable Shortlisted Works
Geraldine Brooks' memoir, Memorial Days, explores her grief following the sudden death of her partner, journalist Tony Horwitz, with the author retreating to Flinders Island for reflection. Miranda Darling's novel, Fireweather, is a sequel to her 2024 work Thunderhead, focusing on a woman navigating personal and environmental collapse. Lee Lai's graphic novel, Cannon, portrays a queer Chinese woman grappling with suppressed emotions, while Marika Sosnowski's 58 Facets blends memoir and investigative nonfiction to examine historical complicity. Tasma Walton's I Am Nannertgarrook offers a fictionalised retelling of her ancestor's abduction and enslavement.
Judges' Comments and Prize Details
Sophie Gee, chair of the judging panel, praised the shortlisted books for their creative vitality, literary rigor, and expressive richness. She noted, "None of these books was as we expected, going in. Each of them moved us to the core through language, the truth of their emotion, and the honesty of what it means to be human, across time and space." The Stella prize, established to celebrate Australian women and non-binary writers, last year awarded Michelle de Kretser for her novel Theory and Practice.
