Shaun Tan Interviewed

The Australian runs a new interview with Shaun Tan, who discusses the success of The Arrival and his latest picture book project, Tales From Outer Suburbia.

Tales marks a return by Tan to illustrated prose: The Arrival, an international bestseller and literary prize magnet, was a graphic novel that did not contain a single word.

It caused a stir when it won book of the year -- becoming the first graphic novel to do so -- in last year's NSW Premier's Literary Awards. It provoked consternation when Tan was asked to give a reading at the Sydney Writers Festival. Tan notes that France has taken to his entirely visual narrative with far less ambivalence: The Arrival has sold more than 40,000 copies there and hasn't been narrowly defined as a children's book.