Burning Rice

Teacher Resource

Publisher's synopsis

These poems were written while Eileen Chong was an Australian Poetry Fellow in 2011–2012, mentored by Anthony Lawrence. The book was edited by Judith Beveridge, who taught Eileen Chong poetry in a higher degree program at the University of Sydney.

In 2012 Burning Rice was highly commended for the Anne Elder Award for a first collection of poetry published in Australia. In June 2013 it was shortlisted for the Prime Minster’s Literary Award for poetry.

The first edition of Burning Rice was published by Australian Poetry in 2012 as part of its New Voices series and sold out in record time. Pitt Street Poetry is proud to issue the second edition of this popular collection in a convenient pocket paperback format.

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Eileen Chong

Eileen Chong is an Australian poet of Chinese descent. She was born and raised in Singapore, and came to Australia as an adult migrant. She started writing poetry in 2010, and is the author of eight books published in Australia and the United States. Her work has been shortlisted for numerous prizes, such as the Anne Elder Award, the Australian Arts in Asia Award, the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, and twice for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. Her first book, Burning Rice, is the first single-author collection of poetry by an Asian-Australian to be studied as part of the NSW HSC English syllabus. She lives and works on unceded Gadigal land of the Eora Nation.

Photo courtesy of UQP

Further Details

Author Eileen Chong

Publisher Pitt Street Poetry

Date of Publication 2012

ISBN 9781922080264

Category Poetry

SCIS number

5467091