Miles Franklin's top five novels

WHAT IS THE MILES FRANKLIN LITERARY AWARD?

* One of Australia's most prestigious literary prizes, first presented in 1957 - awarded to the novel "of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life"

* Perpetual is a trustee and The Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund is a supporter of the award

WHY DID IT START?

* Author Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, who wrote My Brilliant Career, wanted other authors to have more support than she did during her life

* The award was established hrough her estate to celebrate Australian character and creativity

WHEN WILL WINNER BE NAMED?

* September 7 at State Library of NSW, and will receive $60,000

THE FIVE FINALISTS 2017:

* An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire (Pac Macmillan Australia) - Explores two women, a murder and the media's coverage of the death

* The Last Days Of Ava Langdon by Mark O'Flynn (University of Queensland Press) - About a misunderstood outsider who refuses to concede to societal expectations

* Their Brilliant Careers by Ryan O'Neill (Black Inc) - A satire of 15 biographies of imagined Australian writers whose lives fit in real literary history

* Waiting by Philip Salom (Puncher & Wattmann) - Odd couples who are both waiting for their lives to change

* Extinctions by Josephine Wilson (UWA Publishing - A novel which explores ageing, adoption, grief, remorse to rescue.

More details: milesfranklin.com.au