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John Blight John Blight i(A8751 works by) (a.k.a. Frederick John Blight; F. John Blight)
Born: Established: 1913 Unley, Unley area, Adelaide - South / South East, Adelaide, South Australia, ; Died: Ceased: 12 May 1995 Brisbane, Queensland,
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

John Blight was born at Unley, South Australia, and moved with his family to Queensland while still an infant. He attended Brisbane High School and, after some years of itinerant labour during the depression, he qualified as an accountant. In 1939 he began work as an accountant for a sawmill and later became part-owner of several mills in the Gympie area, and after the war served on the Timber Inquiry Commission. In 1968 he sold those interests and moved to Brisbane where he became a full-time writer in 1973 with the support of a fellowship from the Literature Board.

Blight's first published poems appeared in the Bulletin in 1939 and his first book The Old Pianist appeared in 1945. Blight is best-known as a poet of the sea, but his poem, 'His Best Poems are About the Sea' in Hart (1975) reminds readers of his diversity. Blight's poetry explores other themes such as urban life, women's beauty and the sexuality of old men.

Blight is widely published and has won many awards. He has been the holder of a Literature Board Emeritus Fellowship and in 1987 was made AM for services to literature and education.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Selected Poems, 1939-1975 Melbourne : Nelson , 1976 Z544908 1976 selected work poetry
1976 second National Book Council Award for Australian Literature
1976 winner Grace Leven Poetry Prize
For a Friend in Malaya i "So easily the hand is placed across the eyes;", 1942 single work poetry war literature
— Appears in: Meanjin Papers , Spring vol. 1 no. 10 1942; (p. 7) Selected Poems, 1939-1975 1976; (p. 260)
1942 Winner Meanjin Papers War Poem Prize Spring
The Patriot i "Perhaps alone he understood", 1942 single work poetry war literature
— Appears in: Meanjin Papers , Summer vol. 1 no. 11 1942; (p. 4)
1942 winner Meanjin Papers War Poem Prize Summer
Last amended 9 Nov 2009 12:31:07
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