Jean Devanny
Encyclopedia
Jane Devanny (7 January 1894 - 8 March 1962) was an Australia
n writer
and Communist. Born in Ferntown, New Zealand
, she migrated to Australia in 1929, eventually moving to Townsville in northern Queensland
, where she died at the age of 68.
She is best known for the novels Sugar Heaven and The Butcher Shop, but she also wrote short stories and political papers.
and Egon Kisch. In 1935 she became the League's first president. The Writers' League became the Writer's Association in 1937.
She was a close friend and correspondent of Miles Franklin
, Marjorie Barnard
and Winifred Hamilton, and was in frequent contact with other Australian writers throughout the mid-20th Century.
In 1948, she approached Mary Gilmore
to write a forward to Travels in North Queensland, but Gilmore declined on the basis that Devanny should write it herself, as 'I have written so many that I have decided not to write any more for a time, as they will have no value by now'.
in the early 1930s. She later had a number of disagreements with the leadership of the party that lead to her expulsion in 1940. She rejoined the party in 1944, but left in 1949. Although she remained a staunch Communist for years after leaving the party, she often expressed disagreement and dissatisfaction with many other communists of the time - most notably Picasso
, of whom she reportedly said: 'Picasso hasn't got any political opinions. His work proves that. He's only got a sentimental attachment to the idea of social justice'.
Devanny was known to use her novels as a way of expressing ideological concepts and principles. During the 1930s she toured North Queensland
to spread propaganda
for the Communist movement. Sugar Heaven was written during this period and was intended to be a form of propaganda.
, rather than trying to write to the best of her abilities. She later noted: 'I realise now that I have not exploited the small measure of ability for writing I possess one whit. I never really got down to it and THOUGHT. Thought was reserved for politics'.
Devanny moved to North Queensland during the 1940s and spent the last two decades of her life in the region. During the 1950s she wrote many articles and stories, which documented many details about the region during the mid Twentieth Century. She died on 8 March 1962 in Townsville, having been diagnosed with chronic leukaemia. Her remains were cremated in Rockhampton
.
Her daughter Pat
also became a communist activist.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and Communist. Born in Ferntown, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, she migrated to Australia in 1929, eventually moving to Townsville in northern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, where she died at the age of 68.
She is best known for the novels Sugar Heaven and The Butcher Shop, but she also wrote short stories and political papers.
Literary connections
Devanny was one of the founders of the Writers' League with Katharine Susannah PrichardKatharine Susannah Prichard
Katharine Susannah Prichard was an Australian author and co-founding member of the Communist Party of Australia.-Biography:...
and Egon Kisch. In 1935 she became the League's first president. The Writers' League became the Writer's Association in 1937.
She was a close friend and correspondent of Miles Franklin
Miles Franklin
Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, known as Miles Franklin was an Australian writer and feminist who is best known for her novel My Brilliant Career, published in 1901...
, Marjorie Barnard
Marjorie Barnard
Marjorie Faith Barnard AO was an Australian novelist and short story writer, critic, historian - and librarian. She went to school and university in Sydney, and then trained as a librarian...
and Winifred Hamilton, and was in frequent contact with other Australian writers throughout the mid-20th Century.
In 1948, she approached Mary Gilmore
Mary Gilmore
Dame Mary Gilmore DBE was a prominent Australian socialist poet and journalist.-Early life:Mary Jean Cameron was born on 16 August 1865 at Cotta Walla near Goulburn, New South Wales...
to write a forward to Travels in North Queensland, but Gilmore declined on the basis that Devanny should write it herself, as 'I have written so many that I have decided not to write any more for a time, as they will have no value by now'.
Political activity
Devanny joined the Communist Party of AustraliaCommunist Party of Australia
The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted...
in the early 1930s. She later had a number of disagreements with the leadership of the party that lead to her expulsion in 1940. She rejoined the party in 1944, but left in 1949. Although she remained a staunch Communist for years after leaving the party, she often expressed disagreement and dissatisfaction with many other communists of the time - most notably Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
, of whom she reportedly said: 'Picasso hasn't got any political opinions. His work proves that. He's only got a sentimental attachment to the idea of social justice'.
Devanny was known to use her novels as a way of expressing ideological concepts and principles. During the 1930s she toured North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
to spread propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
for the Communist movement. Sugar Heaven was written during this period and was intended to be a form of propaganda.
Later years
Devanny later regretted viewing her novels as a way to convey ideologyIdeology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
, rather than trying to write to the best of her abilities. She later noted: 'I realise now that I have not exploited the small measure of ability for writing I possess one whit. I never really got down to it and THOUGHT. Thought was reserved for politics'.
Devanny moved to North Queensland during the 1940s and spent the last two decades of her life in the region. During the 1950s she wrote many articles and stories, which documented many details about the region during the mid Twentieth Century. She died on 8 March 1962 in Townsville, having been diagnosed with chronic leukaemia. Her remains were cremated in Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
.
Her daughter Pat
Pat Devanny
Patricia Devanny , also known as Patricia Hurd, was an Australian political activist.Devanny was born at Puponga, New Zealand, to miner Francis Harold Devanny and Jean, who were both active in the New Zealand Labour Party...
also became a communist activist.
Records and collections
The James Cook University Library holds copies of all of Devanny's published works in the North Queensland Collection. Many of Devanny’s private papers are also held in the Library's Special Collections.Novels and collected stories
- Bird of paradise (1945)
- Bushman Burke (1930)
- The butcher shop (1926)
- Cindie : a chronicle of the canefields (1949)
- Dawn beloved (1928)
- Devil made saint (1930)
- Lenore Divine (1926)
- Old savage : and other stories (1927)
- Out of such fires (1934)
- Paradise flow (1938)
- Poor Swine (1932)
- Riven (1929)
- Roll back the night (1945)
- Sugar heaven (1936)
- Taipo (1944)
- The virtuous courtesan (1935)
Autobiographical works
- By tropic sea and jungle; adventures in North Queensland. (1944)
- Travels in North Queensland. (1951)
- Point of departure: the autobiography of Jean Devanny (1986)