Dorothy Porter
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Featherstone Porter (26 March 1954 – 10 December 2008) was an Australian poet.
. She graduated from the University of Sydney
in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and History.
for poetry, the National Book Council Award for The Monkey's Mask and the FAW Christopher Brennan Award
for poetry. Two of her verse novels were shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award
: What a Piece of Work in 2000 and Wild Surmise in 2003. In 2000, the film The Monkey's Mask
was made of her verse novel of the same name. In 2005 her libretto, The Eternity Man
, co-written with composer Jonathan Mills, was performed at the Sydney Festival
.
Porter's most recent publication, her fifth verse novel, was El Dorado
, about a serial child killer. The book was nominated for several awards including the inaugural Prime Minister's Literary Award in 2007 and for Best Fiction in the Ned Kelly Awards
.
Since her death, The Bee Hut (2009) has been published posthumously, as has her final completed work, an essay on literary criticism and emotions and literature entitled On Passion.
Porter, who found many outlets for writing including fiction for young adults and libretti for chamber opera, was working on a rock opera called January with Tim Finn
at the time of her death.
lesbian
and in 1993 moved to Melbourne to be with her partner and fellow writer, Andrea Goldsmith
. The couple were coincidentally both shortlisted in the 2003 Miles Franklin Award
for literature. In 2009, Porter was posthumously recognised by the website Samesame.com.au
as one of the most influential gay and lesbian Australians.
Porter was a self-described pagan
, committed to pagan principles of courage, stoicism and commitment to the earth and beauty.
On 21 February 2010, actress Cate Blanchett
read excerpts from Porter's posthumously published short work on literary criticism and emotions in literature, On Passion at the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
.
Early life
Porter was born in Sydney. Her father was barrister Chester Porter and her mother, Jean, was a high school chemistry teacher. Porter attended the Queenwood School for GirlsQueenwood School for Girls
Queenwood School for Girls is an independent, non-denominational, Christian day school, located in the suburb of Mosman, on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. She graduated from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and History.
Works and awards
Porter's awards include The Age Book of the YearThe Age Book of the Year
The Age Book of the Year Awards are annual literary awards presented by Melbourne's The Age newspaper. The awards were first presented in 1974. Since 1998 they have been presented as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival...
for poetry, the National Book Council Award for The Monkey's Mask and the FAW Christopher Brennan Award
Christopher Brennan Award
The Christopher Brennan Award is an Australian award given for lifetime achievement in poetry. The award, established circa 1976, takes the form of a bronze plaque; it recognizes a poet who produces work of "sustained quality and distinction"...
for poetry. Two of her verse novels were shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award
Miles Franklin Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize for the best Australian ‘published novel or play portraying Australian life in any of its phases’. The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin , who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career ...
: What a Piece of Work in 2000 and Wild Surmise in 2003. In 2000, the film The Monkey's Mask
The Monkey's Mask
The Monkey's Mask is a 2000 thriller film directed by Samantha Lang. It stars Susie Porter and Kelly McGillis. Porter plays a lesbian private detective who falls in love with a suspect in the disappearance of a young woman...
was made of her verse novel of the same name. In 2005 her libretto, The Eternity Man
The Eternity Man
The Eternity Man is a chamber opera in one act and seven scenes by the Australian composer Jonathan Mills to a libretto by Dorothy Porter. It deals with the life of Arthur Stace who was known as "The Eternity Man" because he chalked the word "Eternity" about 500,000 times in over 35 years on...
, co-written with composer Jonathan Mills, was performed at the Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival is Australia's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1977. Its program features around 80 events including contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks...
.
Porter's most recent publication, her fifth verse novel, was El Dorado
El Dorado
El Dorado is the name of a Muisca tribal chief who covered himself with gold dust and, as an initiation rite, dived into a highland lake.Later it became the name of a legendary "Lost City of Gold" that has fascinated – and so far eluded – explorers since the days of the Spanish Conquistadors...
, about a serial child killer. The book was nominated for several awards including the inaugural Prime Minister's Literary Award in 2007 and for Best Fiction in the Ned Kelly Awards
Ned Kelly Awards
The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia's leading literary awards for crime writing in both the crime fiction and true crime genres...
.
Since her death, The Bee Hut (2009) has been published posthumously, as has her final completed work, an essay on literary criticism and emotions and literature entitled On Passion.
Porter, who found many outlets for writing including fiction for young adults and libretti for chamber opera, was working on a rock opera called January with Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
at the time of her death.
Personal life
Porter was an openComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
and in 1993 moved to Melbourne to be with her partner and fellow writer, Andrea Goldsmith
Andrea Goldsmith
-Life:Goldsmith was born in Melbourne, Victoria, to an Australian-Jewish family. She started learning the piano as a young child, and music remains an abiding passion. She initially trained as a speech pathologist and worked for several years with children with severe communication impairment until...
. The couple were coincidentally both shortlisted in the 2003 Miles Franklin Award
Miles Franklin Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize for the best Australian ‘published novel or play portraying Australian life in any of its phases’. The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin , who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career ...
for literature. In 2009, Porter was posthumously recognised by the website Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au is an Australian LGBT website created by Tim Duggan and a partner. The website is run by Sound Alliance in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills...
as one of the most influential gay and lesbian Australians.
Porter was a self-described pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
, committed to pagan principles of courage, stoicism and commitment to the earth and beauty.
Death
Porter had been suffering from breast cancer for four years before her death, but "many thought she was winning the battle," according to journalist Matt Buchanan. In the last three weeks of her life she became very sick and was admitted to hospital, where she was in intensive care for the final ten days. She died aged 54 on 10 December 2008.On 21 February 2010, actress Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
read excerpts from Porter's posthumously published short work on literary criticism and emotions in literature, On Passion at the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
Malthouse Theatre is the resident theatre company of the Malthouse performing arts complex in Southbank, part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct....
.
External links
- Australian Literature Resources website, contains information on many Australian writers, including Porter
- Dorothy Porter at the Poetry International website
- Australian poet Dorothy Porter dies aged 54
- Dorothy Porter wikispaces includes many references and collection of resources
- Vale Dorothy Porter, article and interview in Cordite Poetry Review, by poet Peter Minter