Boomerang Books Info Bank

The shortlist of titles in the running for this year's Westfied/Waverly Library Award for Literature has been announced.

The shortlisted works are:

• Mr Stuart's Track: The Forgotton Life of Australia's Greatest Explorer (John Bailey, Macmillan)
• A Castle in Tuscany: The Remarkable Life of Janet Ross (Sarah Benjamin, Pier 9)
• The Great War (Les Carlyon, Macmillan)
• The Forgotten Children (David Hill, Random House)
• A Thinking Reed (Barry Jones, Allen & Unwin)
• Unpolished Gem (Alice Pung, Black Inc.)

Each of the shortlisted authors receives the Alex Buzo Prize, worth $600, established last year to commemorate the playwright who played a major role in the establishment of the Westfield/Waverley Library Award.

The shortlisted works were chosen from over 140 submissions for the prize which covers all genres of Australian writing but focuses on the research component.

The winner of the overall award, worth $15,000, will be announced on Wednesday 14 November.