Miles Franklin Literary Award is the most important literary prize in Australia. The award is given annually to a published novel or play that portrays Australian life in any of its aspects and is published in the year preceding the award. The award was established through a bequest in the will of the Australian author Miles Franklin, who died in 1954. Franklin established the award to assist the advancement of Australian literature. The prize was first awarded in 1957. A panel of judges selects a “shortlist” of several works and then a winner. The winner receives a cash prize.
