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Michael Kirby Michael Kirby i(A7750 works by) (a.k.a. Michael Donald Kirby)
Born: Established: 1939 Croydon, Ashfield - Burwood area, Sydney Inner West, Sydney, New South Wales, ;
Gender: Male
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Works By

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1 ADB @ 50 Michael Kirby , 2016 single work essay
— Appears in: Biography Footnotes , August no. 16 2016; (p. 5-10)
'Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, former High Court judge, and current ADB author, was the guest of honour at the reception to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launch of volume one of the Dictionary. This is an abridged version of his speech.
1 Elliott Johnston, Social Values and Justice Michael Kirby , 2016 single work criticism
— Appears in: Indigenous Australians, Social Justice and Legal Reform 2016;
1 First Australians, Law and the High Court of Australia Michael Kirby , 2015 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Wentworth Lectures : Honouring Fifty Years of Australian Indigenous Studies 2015; (p. 281-297)
1 The Commos and Me Michael Kirby , 2014 single work autobiography
— Appears in: Dirty Secrets : Our Asio Files 2014; (p. 49-68)
1 5 y separately published work icon A Private Life : Fragments, Memories, Friends Michael Kirby , Sydney : Allen and Unwin , 2011 Z1813931 2011 selected work autobiography

'Michael Kirby is one of Australia's most admired public figures. At a time of spin and obfuscation, he speaks out passionately and straightforwardly on the issues that are important to him. Even those who disagree with him have been moved by the courage required of him to come out as a high-profile gay man, which at times has caused him to be subjected to the most outrageous assaults on his character.

'This is a collection of reminiscences in which we can discover the private Michael Kirby. It allows the public figure speak in his own voice, without any intermediary. He opens up as never before about his early life, about being gay, about his forty-two year relationship with Johan van Vloten, about his religious beliefs and even about his youthful infatuation with James Dean, which sent him on a sentimental journey to Dean's home town in the year 2000, an adventure he here wryly recalls.

'Beautifully written, reflective and generous, in that warm and gently self-deprecating voice that is so characteristic of him, this is a memoir that Michael Kirby's many admirers have been waiting for.' (From the publisher's website.)

1 Romance of a Magistrate Michael Kirby , 2007 single work review
— Appears in: Quadrant , March vol. 51 no. 3 2007; (p. 92)

— Review of Robbery Under Arms : A Story of Life and Adventure in the Bush and in the Goldfields of Australia Rolf Boldrewood , 1882 single work novel
1 Books in a Land of Paradox : Paper Delivered at Opening of National Library Bicentennial Exhibition, 'People, Print and Paper; a Celebration of the Books of Australia 1788-1988; Canberra 1988 Michael Kirby , 1988 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , June no. 101 1988; (p. 31-33) Australian Author , July vol. 20 no. 2 1988; (p. 5-6,10)
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