Robert Forster was born in Brisbane in 1957 and studied Arts at Queensland University. There he met Grant McLennan and at the beginning of 1978 the two formed the pop band The Go-Betweens. Over the next 11 years the band recorded six albums and toured the world. In 1989 Forster move to Germany to begin a solo career. The Go-Betweens reformed in 2000 and release three more albums before McLennan's death in May of 2006.

In early 2005 Forster was approached to be the rock critic for a new magazine, The Monthly. His previous published work had been a hair care column written for a Manchester fanzine called Debris.

"I am surprised and pleased to win The Geraldine Pascall Prize", Forster said "and take it as great encouragement for my writing".