Shirley Hazzard

Shirley Hazzard was an Australian-born American author of fiction and non-fiction. She is best known for her novels 'The Transit of Venus' and 'The Great Fire', the latter of which won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction in 2003.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Transit of Venus

    The novel follows the lives of two orphaned Australian sisters, Caroline and Grace Bell, who move to England in the post-World War II era. The story revolves around their relationships, particularly Caroline's complex and often tragic love life. The narrative is filled with themes of love, fate, time, and the intricate complexities of human relationships, all set against the backdrop of significant historical events.

    The 1096th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  2. 2. The Great Fire

    "The Great Fire" is a historical novel set in the aftermath of World War II. The story follows a British war hero, Aldred Leith, who is sent to occupied Japan to research the effects of the war on the country's culture. During his stay, he falls in love with a young girl, Helen, who is the daughter of the Australian camp commander. Despite the age difference and societal expectations, the two form a deep bond. The book explores themes of love, war, cultural change, and personal transformation.

    The 2817th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon