Pictures of You: Collected Stories

by Tony Birch

Pictures of Collected Stories brings together the best of acclaimed writer Tony Birch' s short fiction from the past two decades. Cherrypicking from across his oeuvre, this anthology showcases his skills at finding the extraordinary in ordinary lives, and the often-unexpected connections and kindnesses between strangers. His work is by turns poignant, sad, profound and funny – and always powerful. Throughout this stellar collection, Birch' s preoccupation with the humanity of those who are often marginalised or overlooked, and the search for justice for people and the natural environment shines bright.

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Tony Birch is the author of Ghost River, which won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Indigenous Writing and Blood, which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. He is also the author of Shadowboxing and three short story collections, Father’s Day, The Promise and Common People. In 2017 he was awarded the Patrick White Literary Award. Tony is a frequent contributor to ABC local and national radio and a regular guest at writers’ festivals. He lives in Melbourne and is a Senior Research Fellow at Victoria University.

Reviews

[Robert Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petty criminals, brothels, police racism, domestic violence, bicycle thieves and bullies, budding pugilists and lost grieving souls. An immersive read and a rare insight into the lives of people doing it tough.

[Rozanna Lilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of short stories. In deceptively straightforward prose, Birch brings to life corners of working class life (most often in inner city Melbourne) and shines a light on the workings of everyday racism directed at Aboriginal people. These Australian characters are laconic, battered, and resilient. But there's also plenty of room for the power of friendships and a deep sense of magicality. Fantastic stuff

[Asha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good - fave short story collection so far

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are twenty-two stories in this collection. While I have read some of these stories before (some have been published before in various places) I am delighted to have them all in this anthology. Why? Tony Birch’s stories take me into situations I need to think about or are reminded of.

In some cases, stories are reminders of dysfunctional families, in other cases the strength of sibling bonds, and often of absent fathers. Characters are frequently poised on the brink of what may be success or could be failure. The potential exists, the choices made will define the path taken. But there are reminders, too, of change. Of a neighbourhood being demolished which renders an aspect of family history redundant. Of kindness (or is it nobility?) both when a police officer spends a day with a wandering Aboriginal man who is searching, and when a brothel owner who walks away from her world to care for an abandoned child.

Each story is self-contained, but many invited me to wonder about what might happen next: ‘what if …’.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith