Disquiet, Julia Leigh’s first novella, is one of the books that made its mark on the international literary scene in 2008. Greeted with critical acclaim in Australia, this second brilliant work by Toni Morrison’s protégée was published in France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Chinese and Greek translations are pending.

The book tells the story of Olivia, who flees Australia and a violent husband to seek refuge with her two children in the family home she hasn’t seen in years. It won the 2009 Encore Award — presented since 1990 by Britain’s Society of Authors for a second novel — and was shortlisted for many other prizes worldwide. Chosen as one of the best books of the year by the Australian magazine, The Monthly, and by the Guardian, in the U.K., this dark and compelling tale has been described by prominent South African novelist J. M. Coetzee as a “powerful and disquieting novella”. Its strength lies in the fact that the author muzzles the characters, preventing them from expressing their pain.

With this new work, Leigh continues the success established by her first novel, The Hunter, which has been translated into six languages and awarded numerous prizes. Commenting on the invitations she received from book fairs this year, including the Shanghai International Literary Festival in March, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in April and the 3e Assises internationales du roman – an international conference on the novel – in Lyon in May, she says: “What I like most about festivals are the heartening chance encounters with fellow writers.”

The Australian novelist has just completed her doctorate in the University of Adelaide’s English Department and is currently working on an original screenplay for Paramount/Plan B and on a screen adaptation with Brazilian director Walter Salles. She has been named one of 25 New Faces of Independent Cinema by Filmmaker Magazine (U.S.). Toni Morrison says of her: “Julia Leigh is a sorceress. Her deft prose casts a spell of serene control, while the earth quakes underfoot.”