Womens Prize For Fiction Winner

The Idea of Perfection

by Kate Grenville

Summary

Two awkward, middle aged strangers meet in a fading Australian country town divided over whether to demolish an old bridge. Grenville finds deep comedy and aching vulnerability in two people convinced they are unlovable, circling each other with painful caution. The result is a warm, precise study of imperfection as the truest form of connection.

Historical Context & Significance

Kate Grenville's win brought wider international attention to Australian fiction and to her broader body of work.