Nevil Shute, who penned 'A Town Like Alice', is one. Ruth Park, author of 'The Harp in the South', is well - known. Also, Joan Lindsay, the creator of 'Picnic at Hanging Rock', is a notable figure in the realm of Australian historical novels. These authors have used their works to bring different aspects of Australian history to life, be it the war - time experiences, the working - class struggles or the mysterious events in the past.
Jane Harper is a well - known author. Her books like 'The Dry' and 'The Lost Man' are very popular. She has a great talent for creating suspense in the Australian outback setting. Another is Peter Temple. His detective novels are highly regarded for their in - depth characters and complex plots. Chris Hammer is also known for his works in this genre.
Kate Grenville is quite well - known. Her works often explore early Australian history, like in 'The Secret River' which delves into the story of convicts and settlers.
Will Kostakis is a well - known author of Australian young adult novels. His work, like 'The First Third', often deals with family relationships and self - discovery. Additionally, there's Jaclyn Moriarty who has written some engaging young adult novels set in Australia. Her books are known for their unique storytelling and relatable characters.
One well - known author is Tim Winton. His works often touch on the Australian outback and the people in it. Another could be Colleen McCullough, who has written novels set in Australia with outback elements.
There are many great authors of historical novels. For example, Leo Tolstoy with 'War and Peace'. This novel is not only a story of love and family but also a detailed account of the Napoleonic Wars and Russian society at that time. James Michener is also renowned. His works often cover large swaths of history and different cultures, like in 'Centennial' which chronicles the history of the American West. And then there's Philippa Gregory, who has written numerous historical novels about the Tudor court, giving readers an in - depth look at that era.
Robert Graves is a well - known author of Roman historical novels. His 'I, Claudius' is highly regarded. Another is Rosemary Sutcliff, famous for 'The Eagle of the Ninth'. And of course, Tacitus, whose works like 'The Annals of Imperial Rome' are very important historical sources that can be related to this genre.
One of the most prominent is Patrick White. He was the first Australian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. His works are complex and often deal with themes of human nature and spirituality. Also, Helen Garner is quite famous. Her writing is often semi - autobiographical and she delves deep into the emotional lives of her characters, especially women, in an Australian setting.
Colleen McCullough is a very well - known Australian author of romance novels. Her 'The Thorn Birds' is world - famous and has captivated readers with its epic love story.
Isobelle Carmody is also a notable figure. She has written some science - fiction - influenced works that often incorporate elements of Australian culture and mythology. Her writing style is both engaging and thought - provoking, and she has a loyal following among readers of Australian science fiction.
Melina Marchetta is a well - known Australian YA Fiction author. Her works often explore themes like family, identity, and relationships in a very engaging and relatable way, as seen in 'Looking for Alibrandi'.