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Mervyn Skipper Mervyn Skipper i(A13932 works by) (a.k.a. M. G. Skipper; Mervyn Garnham Skipper)
Also writes as: M. G. S. ; Feng-Shui ; Nakhoda ; Chevroford
Born: Established: 26 Feb 1886 Rose Park, Burnside area, Adelaide - South / South East, Adelaide, South Australia, ; Died: Ceased: 3 Oct 1959 Melbourne, Victoria,
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Mervyn Skipper worked for the Eastern Extension Cable Co. (1902-24), spending time in Borneo and the Malay States, an experience which informed some of his later writing. Skipper was the Melbourne representative of the Bulletin and wrote for the Lone Hand and other publications.

In 1933 he left the Bulletin to establish the little magazine Pandemonium, but when the magazine ceased production after only twelve issues, he returned to the Bulletin and was its art and drama critic from 1956 until his death. During this period Skipper and his family had developed a close association with the painter Jurgus Jorgensen at the artists' colony Montsalvat. The notorious reputation of the colony subsequently hindered Skipper's career in journalism due to the disapproval of the Bulletin's editor.

While he wrote many short stories, Skipper is best-known for the children's books, The Meeting-Pool (1929) and The White Man's Garden (1930). A collection of stories collected during Skipper's time in Borneo, they have been translated into several European languages.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • E. Morris Miller Australian Literature from Its Beginnings to 1935 (1940) notes 'His "Letters from Borneo" cover several articles in the Lone Hand, 1911, for which, among other stories, he wrote "The Racial Tragedy of Java" (v. 7, 1910).'

    'Letters from Borneo' and other works by Skipper are held at the Mitchell Library. Cartoons by Skipper are held at the National Library of Australia.

Last amended 6 Sep 2007 17:07:28
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