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'Kenneth Slessor (1901-71) is one of Australia's finest poets and this is the definitive collection of 103 poems; all he had ever published. This is the author's selection of his work from 1919 to 1939, first published as One Hundred Poems in 1944 (with the addition of three further poems in 1957). It draws from his acclaimed books, Earth Visitors (1926), Cuckooz Contrey (1932) and Five Bells (1939). Introduced by Dennis Haskell, this selection includes Slessor's own piece about his work, 'Some Notes on the Poems'. From his historical series, 'Five Visions of Captain Cook', to his memorial to the loss of a friend, 'Five Bells', from the tragic landscape of El Alamein, made famous in 'Beach Burial', to the meditation 'Out of Time', Slessor's poetry continues to dazzle contemporary audiences.' (Publication summary)
Reading Australia
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Australia in Three Books : Maks Sipowicz
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: Meanjin Online 2022; Meanjin , June vol. 81 no. 2 2022; (p. 26-28)
— Review of Kenneth Slessor Selected Poems 2014 selected work poetry ; Horse 2018 single work prose ; Dropbear 2021 selected work poetry essay -
[Essay] : Slessor: Selected Poems
2013
single work
essay
— Appears in: Reading Australia 2013-;'People who go in for the arts are often advised: Don’t give up your day job. But what’s a suitable day job for a poet? A century ago many Australian poets made a meagre living as freelance writers for newspapers and magazines. Some even took up journalism full-time, writing their verses on the side. The old Bulletin, one of the wellsprings of Australian literature, was populated by them. But, as most newspapers ceased publishing poems, by the 1930s the careers of poet and journalist began increasingly to seem like strange bedfellows. The combination was no more strange or contradictory than in the case of Kenneth Slessor (1901–1971).' (Introduction)
-
Australia in Three Books : Maks Sipowicz
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: Meanjin Online 2022; Meanjin , June vol. 81 no. 2 2022; (p. 26-28)
— Review of Kenneth Slessor Selected Poems 2014 selected work poetry ; Horse 2018 single work prose ; Dropbear 2021 selected work poetry essay -
[Essay] : Slessor: Selected Poems
2013
single work
essay
— Appears in: Reading Australia 2013-;'People who go in for the arts are often advised: Don’t give up your day job. But what’s a suitable day job for a poet? A century ago many Australian poets made a meagre living as freelance writers for newspapers and magazines. Some even took up journalism full-time, writing their verses on the side. The old Bulletin, one of the wellsprings of Australian literature, was populated by them. But, as most newspapers ceased publishing poems, by the 1930s the careers of poet and journalist began increasingly to seem like strange bedfellows. The combination was no more strange or contradictory than in the case of Kenneth Slessor (1901–1971).' (Introduction)