The Architect (novel)

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The Architect
AuthorJohn Scott
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Genrenovel
PublisherPenguin, Australia
Publication date
2001
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages174
ISBN0670910449
Preceded byBefore I Wake 
Followed byWarra Warra 

The Architect (2001) is a novel by Australian author John Scott. It was shortlisted for the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature,[1] the Victorian Premier's Prize[2] and the 2002 Miles Franklin Award,[3] an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases"[4]

Plot summary[edit]

The novel tells the story of two architects: successful young Australian Andrew Martin, and neglected Johannes Von Ruhland. When Martin meets Von Ruhland in Berlin he is drawn into the older man's world.[5]

Reception[edit]

In an interview with The Age following the novel's Miles Franklin Award shortlist announcement, Scott admitted to being disappointed by how his novel was initially received and had nearly given up on writing fiction because of the cold reception.[3] "It had a number of spiteful reviews and hardly sold any copies. I could see my literary career being dismantled in front of my eyes". He later expressed hope that the unexpected shortlisting will mean that "the book won't sink without trace."

Notes[edit]

  • Dedication: For Elizabeth Francis and John Hughes
  • Epitaph: "Shall mortal man be more just than God? / Shall a man be more pure than his maker?" Job 4: 17

Awards and nominations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "John A. Scott". www.australianbookreview.com.au. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  2. ^ "John Scott". Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  3. ^ a b "Big guns on for Miles Franklin award". The Age. 2002-04-19. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  4. ^ "Miles Franklin Literary Award | Perpetual". www.perpetual.com.au. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  5. ^ Scott, John A. (2003). The Architect: A Tale. Penguin Books. ISBN 9780140293548.
  6. ^ a b "John Scott". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 2023-09-23.