Collection of writers' speeches made at the annual presentations of the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards from 1980 to 1999. Contributors include Donald Horne, Geoffrey Dutton, Judith Wright, David Williamson, Manning Clark, Dorothy Green, Thomas Keneally, Rosemary Wighton, Morris West, Elizabeth Jolley, Frank Moorhouse, Richard Walsh, Elizabeth Riddell, Faith Bandler, David Marr, Peter Singer, Charles Birch, Drusilla Modjeska and Peter Porter. Foreword by Premier Bob Carr and introduction by the editor. Includes photographs, lists of the award winners and the judges, and biographical notes on the contributors.