This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1957.

Books

Thea Astley Thea Beatrice May Astley (25 August 1925 – 17 August 2004) was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She was a prolific writer who was published for over 40 years from 1958. At the time of her death, she had won more Miles Franklin ...

– '' Girl with a Monkey'' * Nancy Cato – ''All the Rivers Run'' *

Catherine Gaskin Catherine Gaskin (2 April 19296 September 2009) was an Irish–Australian romance novelist. Biography Gaskin was born in Dundalk Bay, County Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling ...

– ''Blake's Reach'' *

Frank Hardy Francis Joseph Hardy (21 March 1917 – 28 January 1994), published as Frank J. Hardy and also under the pseudonym Ross Franklyn, was an Australian novelist and writer. He is best known for his 1950 novel '' Power Without Glory'', and for his ...

– ''The Four-Legged Lottery'' *

Dorothy Hewett Dorothy Coade Hewett (21 May 1923 – 25 August 2002) was an Australian playwright, poet and author, and a romantic feminist icon. In writing and in her life, Hewett was an experimenter. As her circumstances and beliefs changed, she progressed ...

- ''Bobbin Up'' * Elizabeth Harrower – ''The Long Prospect'' *

Christopher Koch Christopher John Koch AO (16 July 1932 – 23 September 2013) was an Australian novelist, known for his 1978 novel '' The Year of Living Dangerously'', which was adapted into an award-winning film. He twice won the Miles Franklin Award (for ' ...

– '' The Boys in the Island'' * Eric Lambert – ''The Dark Backward'' *

Hal Porter Harold Edward "Hal" Porter (16 February 1911 – 29 September 1984) was an Australian novelist, playwright, poet and short story writer. Biography Porter was born in Albert Park, Victoria, grew up in Bairnsdale, and worked as a journalist, te ...

– ''A Handful of Pennies'' * Olaf Ruhen – ''Naked Under Capricorn'' *

Nevil Shute Nevil Shute Norway (17 January 189912 January 1960) was an English novelist and aeronautical engineer who spent his later years in Australia. He used his full name in his engineering career and Nevil Shute as his pen name, in order to protect ...

– ''

The Rainbow and the Rose ''The Rainbow and the Rose'' is a novel by Nevil Shute. It was first published in England in 1958 by William Heinemann. Title The title is taken from a sonnet "The Treasure" by Rupert Brooke, which is quoted in full as a preface: When colour ...

'' * Dal Stivens – ''The Wide Arch'' *

Randolph Stow Julian Randolph Stow (28 November 1935 – 29 May 2010) was an Australian-born writer, novelist and poet. Early life Born in Geraldton, Western Australia, Randolph Stow was the son of Mary Campbell Stow née Sewell and Cedric Ernest Stow, a ...

– ''

To the Islands ''To the Islands'' is a 1958 novel by Australian author Randolph Stow. It won the Miles Franklin Award for 1958 and the ALS Gold Medal in 1959. Plot summary The novel is set in a remote Anglican mission in the Kimberley in the far north of W ...

'' *

E. V. Timms Edward Vivian Timms (1895–1960), better known as E. V. Timms, was an Australian novelist and screenwriter. He was injured serving in the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I and was an unsuccessful soldier settler before turning to writing. He ...

– '' Robina'' *

Morris West Morris Langlo West (26 April 19169 October 1999) was an Australian novelist and playwright, best known for his novels '' The Devil's Advocate'' (1959), '' The Shoes of the Fisherman'' (1963) and ''The Clowns of God'' (1981). His books were pub ...

– ''The Backlash'' (aka ''The Second Victory'')

Short stories

A. Bertram Chandler Arthur Bertram Chandler (28 March 1912 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England – 6 June 1984 in Sydney, Australia) was an Anglo-Australian merchant marine officer, sailing the world in everything from tramp steamers to troop ships, but who later tu ...

– "Planet of Ill Repute" * Peter Cowan – ''The Unploughed Land : Stories'' *

– "The Crookest Raffle Ever Run in Australia" * Roland Robertson – ''Black-Feller, White-Feller'' *

Judith Wright Judith Arundell Wright (31 May 191525 June 2000) was an Australian poet, environmentalist and campaigner for Aboriginal land rights. She was a recipient of the Christopher Brennan Award. Biography Judith Wright was born in Armidale, New So ...

** "The Colour of Death" ** "The Lame Duck"

Children's and Young Adult fiction

Nan Chauncy Nan Chauncy (28 May 1900 – 1 May 1970) was a British-born Australian children's writer. Early life Chauncy was born Nancen Beryl Masterman in Northwood, Middlesex (now in London), and emigrated to Tasmania, Australia, with her family in 1912 ...

– '' Devil's Hill'' * John Gunn – ''

Sea Menace ''Sea Menace'' (1958) is a novel for children by Australian author John Gunn, illustrated by Brian Keogh. It was joint winner of the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers in 1959. Plot outline At the time when William Bligh was Go ...

'' * Elyne Mitchell – '' The Silver Brumby'' *

Mary Elwyn Patchett Mary Elwyn Patchett (2 December 1897 – 1989) was an Australian writer of children's literature, beautician and dietitian. She was considered to be a pioneer of children's science fiction and the most widely-read Australian children's author of ...

** ''The Brumby'' ** ''The Mysterious Pool'' *

Eleanor Spence Eleanor Spence (1928–2008) was an Australian author of novels for young adults and older children. Her books explore a wide range of issues, including Australian history, religion, autism, bigotry, materialism and alienation. She was appoin ...

– ''Patterson's Track'' *

– ''Kings of the Dingoes''

Poetry

Bruce Beaver Bruce Victor Beaver (14 February 1928 – 17 February 2004) was an Australian poet and novelist. Biography Beaver was born in Manly, New South Wales. He was educated at the Manly Public School and at the Sydney Boys' High School. He worked at ...

– "White Cat and Brown Girl" * David Campbell ** "Hear the Bird of Day" ** "On the Birth of a Son" ** "Prayer for Rain" *

Geoffrey Dutton Geoffrey 'Geppie' Piers Henry Dutton AO (2 August 192217 September 1998) was an Australian author and historian. Biography Dutton was born into a prominent pastoralist family of Anlaby Station near Kapunda, South Australia in 1922. His grandfa ...

– ''

Antipodes in Shoes ''Antipodes in Shoes'' (1958) is a poetry collection by Australian poet Geoffrey Dutton Geoffrey 'Geppie' Piers Henry Dutton Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (2 August 192217 September 1998) was an Australian author and historian. Biog ...

'' * R. D. Fitzgerald – "

The Wind at Your Door ''The Wind at Your Door'' (1959) is a one-poem volume by Australian poet R. D. Fitzgerald. The poem was originally published in '' The Bulletin'' on 17 December 1958, and later in this 275 copy Talkarra Press limited edition, signed by the autho ...

" * Max Harris – "A Window at Night" *

James McAuley James Phillip McAuley (12 October 1917 – 15 October 1976) was an Australian academic, poet, journalist, literary critic and a prominent convert to Roman Catholicism. He was involved in the Ern Malley poetry hoax. Life and career McAuley wa ...

– "In a Late Hour" *

David Martin David or Dave Martin may refer to: Entertainment *David Martin (artist) (1737–1797), Scottish painter and engraver *David Stone Martin (1913–1992), American artist *David Martin (poet) (1915–1997), Hungarian-Australian poet and novelist *Dav ...

– ''Poems of David Martin, 1938-1958'' *

Ian Mudie Ian Mayelston Mudie (1 March 1911 – 23 October 1976) was an Australian poet and author. Early life and education Mudie was born in 1911 in Hawthorn, South Australia, son of Henry Mayelston Mudie, an accountant, and his second wife Gertrude M ...

– "The North-Bound Rider" *

David Rowbotham David Harold Rowbotham (27 August 1924 – 6 October 2010) was an Australian poet and journalist. Early life Rowbotham was born in the Darling Downs of Queensland, in the city of Toowoomba. He attended Toowoomba Grammar School and studied a ...

– ''Inland : Poems'' *

** "The Embarkation" ** "In Praise of Hillbillies" * Francis Webb ** "Five Days Old" ** "The Sea" * ''The Penguin Book of Australian Verse'', edited by John Thompson,

Kenneth Slessor Kenneth Adolphe Slessor (27 March 190130 June 1971) was an Australian poet, journalist and official war correspondent in World War II. He was one of Australia's leading poets, notable particularly for the absorption of modernist influences int ...

and R. G. Howarth

Biography

Russell Braddon Russell Reading Braddon (25 January 1921 – 20 March 1995) was an Australian writer of novels, biographies and TV scripts. His chronicle of his four years as a prisoner of war, '' The Naked Island'', sold more than a million copies. Braddon ...

– ''End of a Hate'' * Ion Idriess – ''Back o' Cairns'' * Elizabeth O'Conner – ''Steak for Breakfast'' *

Arthur Mailey Alfred Arthur Mailey (3 January 188631 December 1967) was an Australian cricketer who played in 21 Test matches between 1920 and 1926. Mailey used leg-breaks and googly bowling, taking 99 Test wickets, including 36 in the 1920–21 Ashes ser ...

– ''10 for 66 and All That''

Awards and honours

Literary

Children's and Young Adult

Poetry

Births

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1958 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death. * 6 March – Paul Hetherington, poet * 6 April –

Graeme Base Graeme Rowland Base (born 6 April 1958) is a British-Australian author and artist of picture books. He is perhaps best known for his second book, '' Animalia'' published in 1986, and third book '' The Eleventh Hour'' which was released in 1989. ...

, artist and writer for children * 16 June –

Isobelle Carmody Isobelle Jane Carmody (born 16 June 1958) is an Australian writer of science fiction, fantasy, children's literature, and young adult literature. She is recipient of the Aurealis Award for best children's fiction. Biography Isobelle Carmody w ...

, novelist * 11 November –

Kathy Lette Kathryn Marie Lette (born 11 November 1958) is an Australian-British author whose works have been best-sellers. Early life Lette was born on 11 November 1958 in Sydney's southern suburbs. She appeared in ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' of 20 Au ...

, novelist * 17 December –

Christopher Kelen Professor Christopher (Kit) Kelen (born 17 December 1958 in Sydney) is an Australian academic, writer, and artist. He is the younger son of Hungarian-born writer Stephen Kelen. Kelen is the author of fourteen volumes of poetry and two novels. ...

, novelist and poet Unknown date * Debra Adelaide, novelist *

Sarah Day Sarah Day (born 1958) is an English-born Australian poet and teacher. She was also the poetry editor of ''Island Magazine'' for several years. Biography Sarah E Day was born in Lancashire, England, in 1958 and grew up in Hobart, Tasmania. A ...

, poet * Lionel Fogarty, poet *

Steven Herrick Steven Herrick (born in Brisbane, 1958) is an Australian poet and author. Herrick has published twenty-six books for adults, young adults and children. He is widely regarded as a pioneer of verse-novels for children and young adults. Herrick was ...

, poet * Kathleen Stewart, novelist and poet

Deaths

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

) of deaths in 1958 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth. * 4 January –

Philip Lindsay Philip Lindsay (30 April 1906 – 4 January 1958) was an Australian writer, who mostly wrote historical novels. Life and writing He was the son of Norman Lindsay, an Australian artist and a younger brother of writer Jack Lindsay. He was ...

, historical novelist (died in England) (born 1906) * 17 February –

Hugh McCrae Hugh Raymond McCrae OBE (4 October 1876 – 17 February 1958) was an Australian writer, noted for his poetry. Life and career McCrae was born in Melbourne, the son of the Australian author George Gordon McCrae and grandson of the painter and ...

, poet (born 1876) * 8 April –

Ethel Turner Ethel Turner (24 January 1870 – 8 April 1958) was an English-born Australian novelist and children's literature writer. Life She was born Ethel Mary Burwell in Doncaster in England. Her father died when she was two, leaving her mother Sarah J ...

, novelist (born 1870) * 2 July –

Mary Grant Bruce Mary Grant Bruce (24 May 1878 – 2 July 1958), also known as Minnie Bruce, was an Australian children's author and journalist. While all her thirty-seven books enjoyed popular success in Australia and overseas, particularly in the United Kingdo ...

, novelist (born 1878) * 4 August —

Ethel Anderson Ethel Campbell Louise Anderson (née Mason; 16 March 1883 – 4 August 1958) was an early twentieth century Australian poet, essayist, novelist and painter. She considered herself to be mainly a poet, but is now best appreciated for her witty an ...

, poet (born 1883) * 26 September – Arthur Bayldon, poet (born 1865)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1958 in Australian literature Australian literature by year 20th-century Australian literature 1958 in literature

Books

Short stories

Children's and Young Adult fiction

Poetry

Biography

Awards and honours

Literary

Children's and Young Adult

Poetry

Births

Deaths

See also

References