‘The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper,’ Eden Phillpotts once wrote. Robbie Arnott and Jan Carson have both written novels that bring that magic to the fore – while still being grounded in the familiar world – in The Rain Heron and The Fire Starters respectively.

The authors sit down to discuss magic, meaning, and why sometimes the only proper response to reality is to disregard it. With Angela Meyer.

This event is part of the Melbourne Writers Festival. You can access the event online here