1961 in Australian literature

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This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1961.

For an overview of world literature see 1961 in literature.

See also: 1960 in Australian literature, 1961 in Australia, 1962 in Australian literature.

Events

The Australian Book Review was founded in 1961 by Max Harris and Rosemary Wighton.

Major publications

Books

• James Aldridge – The Last Exile
• Mena Calthorpe – The Dyehouse
• A. Bertram Chandler – The Rim of Space
• Kenneth Cook – Wake in Fright
• Dymphna Cusack – Heatwave in Berlin
• Nene Gare – The Fringe Dwellers
• Xavier Herbert – Soldiers' Women
• Elizabeth Kata – Be Ready with Bells and Drums
• John O'Grady – No Kava for Johnny
• Ruth Park – The Good Looking Women (aka '"Serpent's Delight)
• Hal Porter – The Tilted Cross
• George Turner – A Stranger and Afraid
• Judah Waten – Time of Conflict
• Morris West – Daughter of Silence
• Patrick White – Riders in the Chariot

Short stories

• Thea Astley – "Cubby"
• A. Bertram Chandler – "All Laced Up"
• Shirley Hazzard – "Woollahra Road"
• Ray Mathew – A Bohemian Affair : Short Stories
• D'Arcy Niland
  • The Ballad of the Fat Bushranger : and other stories
  • Dadda Jumped Over Two Elephants
  • Logan's Girl and Other Stories
• Desmond O'Grady – "Barbecue"
• Charles Osborne – Australian Stories of Today
• Hal Porter – "Say to Me Roland!"

Children's and Young Adult fiction

• L. H. Evers – The Racketty Street Gang
• John Gunn – Dangerous Enemies
• Ruth Park – The Hole in the Hill
• Betty Roland – Forbidden Bridge
• Colin Thiele – Sun on the Stubble
• Joan Woodberry – Rafferty Rides a Winner

Poetry

Main article: 1961 in poetry

• Vincent Buckley – Masters in Israel
• Emily Bulcock – From Australia to Britain
• Gwen Harwood
  • "In the Park"
  • "Nightfall"
• A. D. Hope – "The Double Looking Glass"
• David Malouf – "At My Grandmother's"
• Peter Porter – Once Bitten, Twice Bitten
• Elizabeth Riddell – Forbears
• Thomas Shapcott – Time on Fire
• Randolph Stow
  • "Dust"
  • "Ruins of the City of Hay"
• Chris Wallace-Crabbe – "Melbourne"
• Francis Webb – Socrates and Other Poems

Biography

• Frank Hardy – The Hard Way : The Story Behind Power Without Glory

Drama

• Russell Braddon – The Naked Island
• Ray Lawler – The Piccadilly Bushman

Awards and honours

Literary

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
ALS Gold Medal	Not awarded
Miles Franklin Award	Patrick White	Riders in the Chariot	Eyre & Spottiswoode

Children and Young Adult

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Children's Book of the Year Award	Older Readers	Nan Chauncy, illustrated by Brian Wildsmith	Tangara	Oxford University Press
	Picture Book	No award

Poetry

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
Grace Leven Prize for Poetry	Thomas Shapcott	Time on Fire	Jacaranda Press

Births

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1961 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

• 29 June — Peter FitzSimons, writer
• 20 August – Greg Egan, novelist and short story writer
• 3 September — Andy Griffiths, writer for children
• 30 September — Jordie Albiston, poet and academic

Unknown date

• Richard Flanagan, novelist

Deaths

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1961 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

• 22 May — Lionel Lindsay, artist and essayist (born 1874)
• 9 June – Jeannie Gunn, novelist (born 1870)
• 27 June – Harry Hooton, poet and social commentator (born 1908)
• 24 July – William Fleming, novelist and poet (born 1874)
• 20 August — Alice Grant Rosman, novelist (born 1882)
• 6 October – Mary Montgomerie Bennett, biographer and nonfiction author (born 1881)

See also

• 1961 in poetry
• List of years in literature
• List of years in Australian literature