(A glimpse at contemporary Australian essays)

Australian essay writing, as a literary genre, witnessed a boom in the mid-20th century, and today it is thriving again. This paper, through a reading of the essays included in The Best Australian Essays: A ten-year collection (2000-2010), offers a discussion of some of the major characteristics of contemporary Australian essay writing in relation to its themes, styles and writers. Contemporary Australian essays frequently deal with Aboriginal issues, the national identity and environmental problems. Soulful narration, impartial reportage, and acute commentary constitute its diversified styles. Today’s Australian essayists come from various social strata and fields of the community, and they are people with different experiences and political backgrounds, but their essays display an edge, a depth, a scope and an unforgettable enthusiasm when they dwell upon the same national and social issues