Join the Friends of the National Library and Troy Bramston, senior writer with The Australian and author of the most recent biography of Gough Whitlam, to discuss the process and craft of writing a biography.
Troy Bramston discusses his biography of Gough Whitlam, a definitive work that provides an unvarnished analysis of Whitlam’s achievements and failures. This lecture will focus on the process of writing the book, undertaking research and his approach to unlocking the secrets of a public life.
Troy undertook much of his research at the Library, drawing on thousands of pages of newly discovered archives, and interviews with more than 100 people. He will discuss how new discoveries informed the first biography of Whitlam since his death in 2014.
There will be plenty of time for discussion, so bring your questions about research, the craft of biography or Whitlam himself.
Tickets cost $25 for Friends members, $30 for general, $15 for Friends members online and $20 for general online. Please make a booking via the National Library website.
Following the presentation, Troy will be signing books in the Library foyer.
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About Troy Bramston
Troy Bramston is a senior writer with The Australian newspaper, reporting on politics, policy and popular culture. He is an award-winning and best-selling author or editor of twelve books, including Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New (2025), Bob Hawke: Demons and Destiny (2022), Robert Menzies: The Art of Politics (2019) and Paul Keating: The Big-Picture Leader (2016).
He was co-winner of an Australian Book Industry Award (2016), finalist for the Walkley Book Award (2017), shortlisted for the National Biography Award (2018) and shortlisted for the Australian Political Book of the Year Award (2022). Troy is a member of the Library Council of the State Library of NSW and the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council.
Browse titles at the National Library Bookshop.
Image credit: Book cover, Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New, by Troy Bramston; and Troy Bramston photographed by John Feder.
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