This week’s guest on Behind the Lines is Anna Krien.
Anna is an Australian writer, poet, essayist, and journalist. In 2014 she became only the second-ever female winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award for her book, Night Games: Sex, Power, and a Journey to the Dark Heart of Sport.
The book centres on a rape trial involving a young woman and a minor league Australian rules footballer, but also exposes a history of sexual violence against women and a culture of misogyny in Australian Rules football and National Rugby League.
We talk about the sports culture exposed in the book, and of how macho sports culture doesn’t just permit misogyny, but is actually sustained by it. We also discuss the book’s legacy. Why was Anna discredited in parts of Australian public life following its release? And to what extent have attitudes to women changed in elite male sport?
There’s plenty more in the conversation besides, including her overcoming early reading difficulties to become an award-winning writer, and what life is like post-lockdown in Melbourne.
Anna’s picks were: _Underworld _by Don DeLillo; _Barracuda _by Christos Tsolkias; and the work of Australian artist, Tracey Moffatt. A reminder to get in touch with us - email behindthelines@the42.ie, tweet @gcooney93.
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If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, you can contact the national 24-hour helpline run by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre at 1800 77 88 88.
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