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For most of the postwar period, Australian literary debate was marked by the division between radical nationalists on the Left and cultural conservatives on the Right. John McLaren's broad cultural history traces the origins of these conflicts, discusses key literary works and major journals, and focuses on the individuals involved in various sagas and struggles. McLaren shows that writing became a form of politics itself, expressing either hope or fear about the revolution that was perceived to be imminent, as well as reflecting society more broadly. The work of politically committed writers is closely examined, as is the response to ostensibly unpolitical writers. McLaren also considers the new journalism and the work of younger poets. He shows that it was not until the changes brought by the 1960s and the Whitlam government that literature was truly freed from these constraints.
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WRITING IN HOPE AND FEAR
WRITING IN HOPE AND FEAR Literature as Politics in Postwar Australia
JOHN MCLAREN Victoria University of Technology
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Published by the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 lRP, UK 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA 10 Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia ©John McLaren 1996 First published 1996 National Library of Australia cataloguing-in-publication data
McLaren,John, 1932- . Writing in hope and fear: literature as politics in postwar Australia. Bibliography. Includes index. 1. Australian literature - 20th century - History and criticism. 2. Politics and literature - Australia. I. Title. A820.9358 Library of Congress cataloguing-in-publication data
McLaren, John D. Writing in hope and fear: literature as politics in postwar Australia /John McLaren. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Australian literature - 20th century - History and criticism. 2. Authors, Australian - 20th century - Political and social views. 3. Politics and literature - Australia - History - 20th century. 4. Australia - Politics and government - 1945- I. Title. PR9609.6.M375 1996 820.9'994-dc20 95-51531 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 0 521 56146 9 Hardback ISBN 0 521 56756 4 Paperback Transferred to digital printing 2003
Contents
Acknowledgements Abbreviations
vii ix
Prologue: The Trials of Robert Close and Frank Hardy
1
1 Modernism and Nationalism: Jindyworobaks, Angry Penguins, Meanjin and other Weird Creatures
14
2 Literary Conflicts and Failed Vision: Overland and the Realist Writers Groups
33
3 The Community of Overland: Lambert, Morrison, Waten, Hewett and Martin
55
4 Conspiring for Freedom: The Australian Association for Cultural Freedom
77
5 The Mission of Quadrant James McAuley and Voices from the Right
95
6 Cold War on Writing: Attacks on Writers and Struggles for Funds
112
7 Proprietors at War: New Journalism in the Lucky Country
127
8 New Little Magazines: Religious Prospect and Secular Dissent 9 Opening the Pages: The Subsidized Journals, 1964-72
141 158
10 From Rhetoric to Eloquence: The Generation of '68
178
Epilogue
201
Notes Index
210 235 v
To Shirley, for constant support and love, and to Laxvrence David Bruce for hope for the future
Acknowledgements
This book is the product of work over many years, and many people have contributed to the development of the ideas in it. In particular, I would like to express my affection and gratitude to the late Stephen MurraySmith, founding editor of Overland, scourge of bigots and bu