Julia Baird

Hear from broadcaster and Phosphorescence author Julia Baird, whose latest book, Bright Shining, is a beautiful, timely exploration of that most mysterious but necessary human quality: grace. With Jacqueline Maley.

About the Author 

Julia Baird is a bestselling author and award-winning journalist. She hosts The Drum on ABC TV and writes columns for a range of publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The New York Times. Her first book, Media Tarts (2004, revised edition 2021) was based on her history PhD about the portrayal of female politicians. Her biography of Queen Victoria was published in 2016 to critical acclaim and was one of The New York Times‘ top ten books of 2016. Her third book, Phosphorescence, was a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning international bestseller. Julia lives near the sea with two children and an abnormally large dog.

About the Book

From the bestselling author of Phosphorescence comes a beautiful and timely exploration of that most mysterious but necessary of human qualities: grace.

‘Luminous … A work to both devour and savour, Baird has, once again, written a book the world needs now.‘ Guardian

Grace is both mysterious and hard to define. It can be found when we create ways to find meaning and dignity in connection with each other,

But we live in an era when grace is an increasingly rare currency. The silos in which we consume information dot the media landscape like skyscrapers, and our growing distrust of the media, politicians and public figures has choked our ability to cut each other slack, to allow each other to stumble, to forgive one another.

So what does grace look like in our world, and how do we recognise it, nurture it in ourselves and express it, even in the darkest of times?

From award-winning journalist Julia Baird, author of the acclaimed national bestseller Phosphorescence, comes Bright Shining, a luminously beautiful, deeply insightful and most timely exploration of grace.

‘Fascinating, wide-ranging and moving’ The Age

ABOUT THE HOST

JACQUELINE MALEY
Jacqueline Maley is a senior writer and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and Age newspapers.  She has won a Walkley Award and two Kennedy awards for her journalism. She is also the recipient of the NSW Council of Liberties Journalism award. In 2021 she published her debut novel, The Truth About Her.