1917 in Australian literature explained

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1917.

Books

• Randolph Bedford – The Silver Star^[1]
• Capel Boake – Painted Clay^[2]
• Mary Grant Bruce – Possum^[3]
• G. B. Lancaster – Fool Divine^[4]
• Henry Handel Richardson – Australia Felix^[5]
• Ethel Turner – Captain Cub^[6]

Short stories

• Vance Palmer – "Tobacco"^[7]
• A. B. Paterson – Three Elephant Power and Other Stories

Poetry

See main article: 1917 in poetry.

• Zora Cross – Songs of Love and Life^[8]
• C. J. Dennis
  • Doreen^[9]
  • The Glugs of Gosh
• Leon Gellert – Songs of a Campaign
• Mary Gilmore
  • "The Kiss"^[10]
  • "The Mother"^[11]
• Henry Lawson – "Scots of the Riverina"
• Furnley Maurice – "1916"^[12]
• A. B. Paterson – Saltbush Bill, J.P., and Other Verses^[13]

Births

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1917 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

• 11 March
  • Nancy Cato, novelist and poet (died 2000)^[14]
  • Jack Davis, playwright, poet and Indigenous rights campaigner (died 2000)^[15]
• 21 March – Frank Hardy, novelist (died 1994)^[16]
• 25 March – Barbara Jefferis, novelist and dramatist (died 2004)^[17]
• 9 May – Helen Palmer, socialist publisher (died 1979)^[18]
• 24 August – Ruth Park, novelist (born in Auckland, New Zealand) (died 2010)^[19]
• 28 August – Wilbur G. Howcroft, poet and writer for children (died 2004)^[20]
• 12 October – James McAuley, poet (died 1976)^[21]
• 17 October – Sumner Locke Elliott, novelist and dramatist (died 1991)^[22]
• 20 October – D'Arcy Niland, novelist (died 1967)^[23]
• 3 November – J. E. Macdonnell, novelist (died 2002)^[24]
• 22 November – Jon Cleary, novelist (died 2010)^[25]

Deaths

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1917 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

• 18 October – Sumner Locke, novelist (born 1881)^[26]

See also

• 1917 in Australia
• 1917 in literature
• 1917 in poetry
• List of years in Australian literature
• List of years in literature

Notes and References

1. Web site: Austlit — The Silver Star by Randolph Bedford . Austlit. 11 January 2024.
2. Web site: Austlit — Painted Clay by Capel Boake . Austlit. 11 January 2024.
3. Web site: Austlit — Possum by Mary Grant Bruce . Austlit. 11 January 2024.
4. Web site: Austlit — Fool Divine by G. B. Lancaster . Austlit. 11 January 2024.
5. Draper . Brian M . January 2009 . Richard Mahony — the misfortunes of younger onset dementia . Medical Journal of Australia . en . 190 . 2 . 94–95 . 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02287.x . 19236298 . 39943621 . 0025-729X.
6. Web site: Austlit — Captain Cub by Ethel Turner . Austlit. 11 January 2024.
7. Web site: Austlit — "Tobacco" by Vance Palmer . Austlit. 11 January 2024.
8. Web site: Austlit — Songs of Love and Life by Zora Cross . Austlit. 6 January 2024.
9. Web site: Austlit — Doreen by C. J. Dennis . Austlit. 6 January 2024.
10. Web site: Austlit — "The Kiss" by Mary Gilmore . Austlit. 6 January 2024.
11. Web site: Austlit — "The Mother" by Mary Gilmore . Austlit. 6 January 2024.
12. Web site: Austlit — "1916" by Furnley Maurice . Austlit. 6 January 2024.
13. News: 1917-03-11 . Another Banjo Book . Sunday Times . 2022-11-18.
14. Web site: Nancy Cato (1917-2000). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
15. Web site: Jack Davis (1917-2000). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
16. Web site: Francis Joseph (Frank) Hardy (1917–1994) by Paul Adams . Australian Dictionary of Biography. 11 January 2024.
17. Web site: Barbara Jefferis (1917-2004). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
18. Web site: Helen Gwynneth Palmer (1917–1979) by Robin Gollan . Australian Dictionary of Biography. 11 October 2023.
19. Web site: Ruth Park (1917-2010). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
20. Web site: Wilbur G. Howcroft (1917-2004). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
21. Web site: McAuley, James Phillip (1917–1976) by Peter Pierce . Australian Dictionary of Biography. 25 June 2023.
22. Web site: Sumner Locke Elliott (1917-1991). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
23. Web site: Niland, D'Arcy Francis (1917–1967) by Bruce Moore . Australian Dictionary of Biography. 13 July 2023.
24. Web site: J. E. Macdonnell (1917-2002). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
25. Web site: Jon Cleary (1917-2010). 2023-09-16 . AustLit: Discover Australian Stories . The University of Queensland.
26. Web site: Locke, Helena Sumner (1881–1917) by B. G. Andrews . Australian Dictionary of Biography. 9 August 2023.