COMMON PEOPLE

From the 2016 Victorian Premier's Literary Award-winning author of Ghost River comes a new collection of short stories.

In this unforgettable new collection, Tony Birch introduces a cast of characters from all walks of life. These remarkable and surprising stories capture common people caught up in the everyday business of living and the struggle to survive. From a young girl who is gifted to a middle-class family for Christmas to a homeless deaf man unexpectedly faced with the miracle of a new life, Birch’s stories are set in gritty urban refuges and battling regional communities. His deftly drawn characters find unexpected signs of hope in a world where beauty can be found on every street corner – a message on a T-shirt, a friend in a stray dog or a star in the night sky.

Common People shines a light on human nature and how the ordinary kindness of strangers can have extraordinary results. With characteristic insight and restraint, Tony Birch reinforces his reputation as a master storyteller.

Stories include: ‘The Ghost Train’, ‘Harmless’, ‘Colours’, ‘Joe Roberts’, ‘The White Girl’, ‘Party Lights’, ‘Paper Moon’, ‘Painted Glass’, ‘Frank Slim’, ‘Liam’, ‘Raven and Sons’, ‘The Good Howard’, ‘Sissy’, ‘Death Star’, ‘Worship’.


Tony Birch is the author of Ghost River, which won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Indigenous Writing and Blood, which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. He is also the author of Shadowboxing, and two short story collections, Father’s Day and The Promise.
Tony is a frequent contributor to ABC local and national radio and a regular guest at writers’ festivals. He lives in Melbourne and is a Senior Research Fellow at Victoria University.