Born in Melbourne, Steven Carroll taught at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and at the Victoria College of Arts. He is the Theatre Critic for Australia’s The Sunday Age and is the author of both literary and commercial novels and numerous Australian stage and radio plays. The Art of the Engine Driver was shortlisted for the Elle Readers’ Prize and the Prix Femina Étranger 2005. Steven was again shortlisted for this prize with part two of the trilogy, The Gift of Speed, which was also shortlisted for the prestigious Miles Franklin Award. Steven has gone on to win this award with the final part, The Time We Have Taken. Film rights to The Art of the Engine Driver have been optioned.