Published 24 June 2009 · Main Posts Australian places defined by music or books Jeff Sparrow That’s Nina Simone’s ‘Baltimore’, and when I was briefly there last year, the words kept going through my head. In fact, you can’t travel anywhere in the US without hearing music, since just about every place name has a song attached to it. Anyway, I was wondering about local equivalents, in either books or music, and so far have come up pretty well blank. There’s this, of course. And a bunch of other Paul Kelly songs, obviously. But what else? And what about books? Are there any Australian suburbs you can’t visit without thinking about a particular novel? Jeff Sparrow Jeff Sparrow is a writer, editor, broadcaster and Walkley award-winning journalist. He is a former columnist for Guardian Australia, a former Breakfaster at radio station 3RRR, and a past editor of Overland. His most recent book is a collaboration with Sam Wallman called Twelve Rules for Strife (Scribe). He works at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne. More by Jeff Sparrow › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 4 October 202418 October 2024 · Main Posts Announcing the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers 2024 longlist Editorial Team Sponsored by Trinity College at the University of Melbourne and supporters, the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers, established in 2014 and now in its ninth year, recognises the talent of young Indigenous writers across Australia. 16 August 202416 August 2024 · Poetry pork lullaby Panda Wong but an alive pig / roots in the soil /turning it over / with its snout / softening the ground / is this a hymn