Her Father’s Daughter

Winner, 2011 Western Australian Book Awards

At twenty-something, Alice is eager for the milestones of adulthood: leaving home, choosing a career, finding friendship and love on her own terms. But with each step she takes she feels the sharp tug of invisible threads: the love and worry of her parents, who want more than anything to keep her from harm. Her father fears for her safety to an extraordinary degree – but why?

As she digs further into her father's story, Alice embarks on a journey of painful discovery: of memories lost and found, of her own fears for the future, of history and how it echoes down the years. Set in Melbourne, China and Cambodia, Her Father's Daughter captures a father–daughter relationship in a moving and astonishingly powerful way.

Shortlisted, 2012 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards
Shortlisted, 2012 NSW Premier's Literary Awards
Shortlisted, 2012 Queensland Literary Awards

‘Pung has an extraordinary story to tell and the finesse to bring it, most movingly to the page.’ —the Monthly

‘A tender, sophisticated sequel to Unpolished Gem, told with humour, compassion, finesse and powerful imagery.’ —Wet Ink

‘Pung is one of the best young writers in Australia. Her Father's Daughter is an exhilarating journey. Take it.’ —Walkley Magazine

‘Pung makes everything she writes about shine’ —the Australian

‘A beautiful exploration of father-daughter relationships.’ —Vogue

‘Remarkably tender and thoughtful.’ —Sunday Age

Alice Pung is a writer, editor, teacher and lawyer based in Melbourne. She is the author of Unpolished Gem, Her Father’s Daughter and Laurinda and the editor of the anthology Growing Up Asian in Australia. Alice’s work has appeared in the Monthly, Good Weekend, the Age, The Best Australian Stories and Meanjin. Alice lives with her husband at Janet Clarke Hall at the University of Melbourne, where she is currently the Artist in Residence.