Xavier Herbert
Encyclopedia
Xavier Herbert was an Australian writer best known for his Miles Franklin Award
-winning novel Poor Fellow My Country (1975). He is considered one of the elder statesmen of Australian literature
. He is also known for short story collections and his autobiography Disturbing Element.
Herbert was born Alfred Jackson in Port Hedland
, Western Australia, in 1901, as an illegitimate child. Before writing he worked many jobs in Western Australia and Victoria
; his first job was in a pharmacy at the age of fourteen. After the First World War he moved to Melbourne and started his writing career, but did not publish his first book, Capricornia
, until 1938. Capricornia was, in part, based on Herbert's experiences being a Protector of the Aborigines in Darwin
, even though it was written in London between 1930 and 1932.
The 1940s and 1950s were a relatively lean time for Herbert in terms of publication. He released Seven Emus. In the 1960s he published two books, before the release of Poor Fellow My Country (1975), as well as a short story collection. Poor Fellow My Country is the longest Australian novel.
Herbert was well known for his outspoken views on indigenous issue. As anyone who has read Poor Fellow My Country can atest to he was outspoken a great champion of Aboriginal peoples, particularly those living in missions in Queensland
and the Northern Territory
. In his personal life he was considered difficult, and his wife Sadie said it was a choice between having children and looking after Xavier. He also frustrated his biographers by telling tall stories about his life and past.
Herbert died in 1984, aged 83.
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 ...
-winning novel Poor Fellow My Country (1975). He is considered one of the elder statesmen of Australian literature
Australian literature
Australian literature is the written or literary work produced in the area or by the people of the Commonwealth of Australia and its preceding colonies. During its early western history, Australia was a collection of British colonies, therefore, its literary tradition begins with and is linked to...
. He is also known for short story collections and his autobiography Disturbing Element.
Herbert was born Alfred Jackson in Port Hedland
Port Hedland, Western Australia
Port Hedland is the highest tonnage port in Australia and largest town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a population of approximately 14,000 ....
, Western Australia, in 1901, as an illegitimate child. Before writing he worked many jobs in Western Australia and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
; his first job was in a pharmacy at the age of fourteen. After the First World War he moved to Melbourne and started his writing career, but did not publish his first book, Capricornia
Capricornia (novel)
Capricornia is a novel by Xavier Herbert. Like his later work considered by many a masterpiece, the Miles Franklin Award winning Poor Fellow My Country, it provides a fictional account of life in 'Capricornia', a place clearly modelled specifically on Australia's Northern Territory, and to a...
, until 1938. Capricornia was, in part, based on Herbert's experiences being a Protector of the Aborigines in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, even though it was written in London between 1930 and 1932.
The 1940s and 1950s were a relatively lean time for Herbert in terms of publication. He released Seven Emus. In the 1960s he published two books, before the release of Poor Fellow My Country (1975), as well as a short story collection. Poor Fellow My Country is the longest Australian novel.
Herbert was well known for his outspoken views on indigenous issue. As anyone who has read Poor Fellow My Country can atest to he was outspoken a great champion of Aboriginal peoples, particularly those living in missions in 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...
and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. In his personal life he was considered difficult, and his wife Sadie said it was a choice between having children and looking after Xavier. He also frustrated his biographers by telling tall stories about his life and past.
Herbert died in 1984, aged 83.
Published works
- CapricorniaCapricornia (novel)Capricornia is a novel by Xavier Herbert. Like his later work considered by many a masterpiece, the Miles Franklin Award winning Poor Fellow My Country, it provides a fictional account of life in 'Capricornia', a place clearly modelled specifically on Australia's Northern Territory, and to a...
(1938) - Seven Emus (1959)
- Soldiers' Women (1961)
- Disturbing Element (1963) - Autobiography
- Larger than Life (1963) - Collection of Short Stories
- Poor Fellow My CountryPoor Fellow My CountryPoor Fellow My Country is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author Xavier Herbert. It is the longest Australian book ever written. Primarily, it is the story of Jeremy Delacy and his illegitimate grandson Prindy in the years leading up to World War II...
(1975) - Miles Franklin AwardMiles Franklin AwardThe 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 ...
Winner, 1975 - South of Capricornia (1990) - Edited by Russel McDougal - Collection of Short Stories
- Xavier Herbert (1992) - Edited by Frances de Groen and Peter PiercePeter PiercePeter Pierce, was born April 6, 1969 in Mountain View, California. He began drawing before the age of six and has become an important figure in the emerging 'surf art' movement. He started surfing in Half Moon Bay and has lived and surfed in Santa Barbara, Dana Point, Morro Bay, and Hawaii....
- Collection of Short Stories - Xavier Herbert Letters (2002) - By Xavier Herbert, Frances De Groen, Laurie Hergenhan (University of Queensland Press, Queensland, Australia, 2002) ISBN 0-7022-3309-9, 9780702233098, 490 pages
- Letters from Xavier Herbert (1983) - NLA MS 9116, By Peggy Hayes
Xavier Herbert literary criticism
- A Long and Winding Road: Xavier Herbert's Literary Journey - Sean Monahan (2003) - Review
External links
- Biography on www.middlemiss.org
- George Negus Tonight segment
- Frances Devlin-Glass 'The Eco-Centric Self and the Sacred in Xavier Herbert's Poor Fellow My Country ' JASAL 8 (2008)
- Fiona Probyn-Rapsey 'Some Whites are Whiter than others: the Whitefella Skin Politics of Xavier Herbert and Cecil Cook' JASAL Special Issue 2007