Dorothy Porter is an acclaimed poet, lyricist and librettist. The Monkey's Mask won the Age Poetry Book of the Year Award and the National Book Council's Poetry Award and has been reprinted eight times. Both Wild Surmise and What a Piece of Work were shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. Her last verse novel, El Dorado, was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Award. Her work has been adapted for radio, stage and screen. In December 2008, Dorothy Porter died aged 54. She had just completed The Bee Hut.