Kate Grenville: A Mystery in 88 Letters

Kate Grenville combines forensic research, gripping storytelling and a profound curiosity about the complexities of the past in her latest work of non-fiction.

Hear from one of Australia’s most acclaimed authors on her dazzling new work a colonial-era cold case that’s part locked-room mystery, part captivating exploration of a writer's imagination navigating the blurred boundaries between fact and possibility.

The Country Schoolmaster: A Mystery in 88 Letters begins with the discovery of an unassuming bundle of letters in an archive. On closer inspection, they reveal a complex tale of victims, villains and small-town secrets.

Fearlessly grappling with complicated histories and the strange textures of the past, Grenville reveals how great stories can emerge from unassuming archival fragments. Join her in conversation with Santilla Chingaipe as she lifts the lid on this fascinating true story.