Under Cover

A candid, insightful memoir by one of Australia’s foremost editors, who worked with many of the country’s finest writers.

It started in 1971, when Craig Munro was a young editor at the University of Queensland Press, with just a typewriter and a thumbed copy of the Chicago Manual of Style on his desk. Over the next two decades, Munro became involved in an invigoration of Australian writing and publishing, with University of Queensland Press at its centre.

After spotting Peter Carey’s work in an indie magazine, Munro edited Carey’s debut, The Fat Man in History. He went on to publish several of Carey’s award-winning novels, edited David Malouf’s classic work, Johnno, and helped to bring about UQP’s Indigenous publishing list. Munro championed Olga Masters and Barbara Hanrahan, edited a young Murray Bail, and became firm friends with Top of the Lake scriptwriters Gerard Lee and Jane Campion. Over his long career, he also encountered an irascible Xavier Herbert, hardworking journalist Hugh Lunn, raconteur Herb Wharton, master storyteller Elizabeth Jolley, and then-emerging talent Kate Grenville. Just as importantly, Munro mentored and trained passionate editors who are today well-known agents, editors, and publishers.

With humour, insight, and warmth, Munro recounts arguably the most daring, innovative, and well-funded period that Australian publishing has ever witnessed. Like Other People’s Words by Hilary McPhee, Under Cover is essential reading for all those who love books and cherish Australia’s unique literary culture.