Hannah Kent

Australian writer

Hannah Kent

Kent at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in Bali, Indonesia, October 2016

Born| 1985
Adelaide, South Australia
Occupation| Writer
Alma mater| Flinders University
Genre| Literary fiction, historical fiction
Website
hannahkentauthor.com

Hannah Kent (born 1985) is an Australian writer, known for two novels – Burial Rites (2013) and The Good People (2016). Her third novel, Devotion, was published in 2021.

## Early life and education[edit]

Kent was born in 1985 grew up in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia.[1][2] She attended Heathfield High School in Heathfield.[1]

She earned a PhD in creative writing at Flinders University, her thesis being the basis of her first novel, Burial Rites.[1]

## Career[edit]

### Kill Your Darlings[edit]

In 2010, Kent co-founded the Australian literary journal Kill Your Darlings with Rebecca Starford.[3]

### Novels[edit]

In 2011 Kent won the inaugural Writing Australia Unpublished Manuscript Award for her novel Burial Rites.[4] Burial Rites tells the story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, a servant in northern Iceland who was condemned to death after the murder of two men, one of whom was her employer, and became the last woman put to death in Iceland.[5] Kent was drawn to the idea of writing her story after a visit to the scene of the woman's execution at Þrístapar, close to where she stayed for some time as a Rotary exchange student when she was 18.[6] The novel crafts a more ambiguous, sympathetic image of the life of a woman widely regarded in popular opinion to have been "an inhumane witch, stirring up murder".[7] Burial Rites went on to be translated into thirty languages and in 2017 it was confirmed that Jennifer Lawrence would play the role of Agnes Magnúsdóttir in a film adaptation.[8] A documentary about Kent's experiences in Iceland and writing Burial Rites was aired on the ABC TV as an episode of Australian Story titled "No More Than a Ghost", on 1 July 2013.[9]

Kent's second novel,The Good People, was published in 2016. Set in Ireland's County Kerry in 1825, it is the story of widow's struggle to find a cure for her grandson who has been struck down by a mysterious inability to speak and who is feared by others in this superstitious community as a changeling.[10] The novel takes inspiration from the case of the death of Michael Leahy.[11] It was translated into ten languages and shortlisted for the Walter Scott Award for Historical Fiction (UK) 2017. Aquarius Films will adapt The Good People for screen.[12]

Her third novel, Devotion (2021), set in a fictionalised version of the Adelaide Hills town of Hahndorf, is an historical love story between two young Lutheran women set in the 1830s, "unfurling in a time that doesn't have the language for it".[13] The novel takes place in their Prussian homeland and the new colony of South Australia.[2]

### Screenwriting[edit]

Kent had been thinking of writing a novel based on a true story about a Scottish child who remembered a past life, and she started researching similar incidences. When film producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw asked if she had any ideas for a screenplay, she suggested using such a storyline as a kind of psychological drama. Kent was interested to imagine "what it would be like to be a parent of this child... in the mother and the alienation she would feel when a child didn't want her".[14] In 2020 it was announced that Elisabeth Moss would star in the film, titled Run Rabbit Run, and Daina Reid would direct.[15] In December 2021, Sarah Snook replaced Moss as the star.[16][17] The film, which developed into a horror film, was released by Netflix on 28 June 2023[14] in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and other territories.[18][19]

## Awards and honours[edit]

### Burial Rites[edit]

* Winner of the Prix Critiqueslibres Decouvrir Étranger 2017[20]
* Winner of the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year 2014[21]
* Winner of the Davitt Awards Best Debut Novel 2014[22]
* Winner of the Davitt Awards Reader's Choice 2014[22]
* Winner of the ABA Nielsen Bookdata Bookseller's Choice Award 2014[23]
* Winner of the Booktopia People's Choice Award 2014[24]
* Winner of the FAW Christina Stead Award 2013[25]
* Winner of the Indie Books Award for Debut Fiction of the Year 2014[26]
* Winner of the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards People's Choice Award 2014[27]
* Winner of the Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist 2014[28]
* Shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2015[29]
* Shortlisted for the Voss Literary Prize 2014[30]
* Shortlisted for the National Book Awards International Author of the Year 2014[31]
* Shortlisted for the Stella Prize 2014[32]
* Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2014[33]
* Shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Prize for Fiction 2014[34]
* Shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal 2014[35]
* Shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award 2013[36]
* Shortlisted for the NIB Waverley Award for Literature 2013[37]

### The Good People[edit]

* Shortlisted for the University of Queensland Fiction Book Award 2017[38]
* Shortlisted for the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction 2017[39]
* Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Award for Historical Fiction (UK) 2017
* Shortlisted for the Indie Books Award for Literary Fiction 2017[40]
* Shortlisted for the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year Award 2017[41]

### Devotion[edit]

* Shortlisted for the Indie Books Award for Fiction 2022[42]
* Shortlisted, Prime Minister's Literary Award for fiction 2022[43]

## Personal life[edit]

As of 2021[update] Kent lives in the Adelaide Hills with her wife, Heidi, and their two young children.[2]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c Bogle, Deborah (18 April 2013). "Light in the dark". The Advertiser. Retrieved 4 November 2020. "Kent has just turned 28."
2. ^ a b c Reich, Hannah (21 November 2021). "Hannah Kent veers away from the strict historical accuracy of Burial Rites to craft Devotion, a queer romance" (Text + audio). ABC News. Radio National: The Book Show. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
3. ^ "About KYD". Kill Your Darlings. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
4. ^ 'Monday musings on Australian literature: Unpublished manuscript awards,' Whispering Gums 13 March 2014.
5. ^ Kent, Hannah 'Keep Calm and Carry On: An Unexpected Path to Publication', Kill Your Darlings, Issue 13 (April 2013)
6. ^ Cassie Mercer, 'Cup of Tea With Hanna Kent, Author of the Burial Rites,' Inside History Magazine 30 October 2013
7. ^ Hannah Kent, Burial Rites (2013) Picador ed. 2015 p.335.
8. ^ "Jennifer Lawrence's New Movie 'Burial Rites' Sounds Killer". Fan Fest | For Fans, By Fans. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
9. ^ 'No More Than A Ghost – Transcript,' Australian Story, ABC TV, 1 July 2013
10. ^ The Good People Pan McMillan
11. ^ Kent, Hannah (20 September 2017). "How Much Actual History Do You Need for a Historical Novel? Hannah Kent on Searching for the Life of Her Main Character". lithub.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
12. ^ Grater, Tom (6 February 2020). "'Lion' & 'Dirt Music' Producer Aquarius Films Hires Rachel Okine As Managing Director". Deadline. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
13. ^ Dewey, Imogen (4 November 2021). "Devotion by Hannah Kent review – historic queer love story overwhelmed by solemn ecstasy". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
14. ^ a b Debelle, Penelope (23 June 2023). "Hannah Kent faces her fears with Run Rabbit Run". InReview. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
15. ^ "Elisabeth Moss to play the lead in Daina Reid's 'Run Rabbit Run'". IF Magazine. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
16. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 December 2021). "'Succession' Star Sarah Snook Takes Over From Elizabeth Moss in Horror Movie 'Run Rabbit Run'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
17. ^ Run Rabbit Run at IMDb
18. ^ "Netflix Picks Up Sundance Midnight Movie 'Run Rabbit Run' Starring Sarah Snook". Variety. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
19. ^ Navarro, Meagan (10 May 2023). "Run Rabbit Run – Netflix Debuts Trailer for Psychological Horror Movie Starring Sarah Snook". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
20. ^ "critiquesLibres.com : critiques de livres". www.critiqueslibres.com (in French). Retrieved 12 May 2018.
21. ^ "2014 Australian Book Industry Awards announced in Sydney". Australian Book Industry Awards. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
22. ^ a b "Davitt Awards 2014 shortlist". Angela Savage. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
23. ^ "ABA Nielsen BookData Booksellers Choice Award 2015 shortlist announced – Books+Publishing". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
24. ^ "Booktopia wins Best Online Retailer at the 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards – The Booktopian". The Booktopian. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
25. ^ "FAW Awards 2013 winners announced – Books+Publishing". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
26. ^ "2014 Indies Choice, E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards Finalists". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
27. ^ "Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2014". The Wheeler Centre. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
28. ^ Morris, Linda (13 May 2014). "Best Young Australian Novelists chosen in SMH writers' awards". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
29. ^ "2015 Shortlist | International DUBLIN Literary Award". www.dublinliteraryaward.ie. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
30. ^ "Shortlist for inaugural Voss Literary Prize announced – Books+Publishing". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
31. ^ "National Book Foundation, Presenter of the National Book Awards, www.nationalbook.org". www.nationalbook.org. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
32. ^ "Shortlist 2014". The Stella Prize. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
33. ^ "The Baileys women's prize for fiction 2014 shortlist". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
34. ^ "Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2014". The Wheeler Centre. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
35. ^ ALS Gold Medal 2014: Judges' report
36. ^ "Burial Rites by Hannah Kent". the Guardian. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
37. ^ "Long List 2013". Waverley Council. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
38. ^ "2017 shortlists". Queensland Literary Awards. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
39. ^ "The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction shortlist 2017 by Gabrielle Williams". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
40. ^ "Indie Book Awards". Indie Book Awards. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
41. ^ "The ABIA 2017 Shortlist! – Australian Book Industry Awards". Australian Book Industry Awards. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
42. ^ "Indie Book Awards 2022 shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
43. ^ "Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2022 shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.

## Further reading[edit]

* Prejudice melts away in a frigid landscape, Burial Rites review by Michael McGirr, Sydney Morning Herald. 25 May 2013
* Burial Rites author Hannah Kent's passion for the past has created a big future, The Age. 8 October 2016

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hannah Kent.

* Official website

* Hannah Kent at AustLit

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