Porter was born in Albert Park, Victoria,[1] grew up in Bairnsdale, and worked as a journalist, teacher and librarian.[2] A car accident just before the outbreak of World War II prevented him from serving in the armed forces. His first stories were published in 1942 and by the 1960s he was writing full-time. His 1963 memoir, The Watcher on the Cast Iron Balcony, is regarded as an Australian masterpiece.
His other works were less successful. The literary critic Laurie Clancy said: "Porter's novels are, with one exception, less successful than his stories, not least because his scorn for most of his characters becomes wearying over the length of a novel." The exception, Clancy thought, was The Tilted Cross, a historical novel set in Hobart in the 1840s.[3]
On 24 July 1983 he was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver in Ballarat and suffered severe brain damage.[4] After laying in a coma for 14 months[5] he died on 29 September 1984.The driver of the vehicle was fined $500, $150 for failing to stop after the accident and $100 for failing to give his name and address.[6]
Honoursedit
In the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours Porter was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to literature.[7] The life and work of Porter has also been honoured since 2006 through the annual Hal Porter Short Story Competition, under the auspices of the East Gippsland Art Gallery, in Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia.[8]
Posthumous reputationedit
After Porter's death, his friend and biographer Mary Lord revealed in her book Hal Porter: Man of Many Parts that Porter had had sexual relations with Lord's then ten-year-old son; despite this, she chose to remain friends with him. Other critics, notably Noel Rowe, have argued that a close reading of his various works reveals a strong interest in paedophilia.
Notesedit
Citationsedit
^Hal Porter Britannica Online Accessed: 21 October 2007
^Porter, Hal (AustLit) Accessed: 14 February 2007.
^Laurie Clancy, A Reader's Guide to Australian Fiction, Oxford, Melbourne, 1992, p. 186.
^Barry Oakley, Minitudes: Diaries 1974-1997 [25 July 1983], p. 155
Craven, Peter. "Porter: friend and betrayer," The Australian, 15–16 January 1994, Review 3.
Mary Lord: Hal Porter: Man of Many Parts (Random House, Sydney, 1993)
Noel Rowe: '"No one but I will know": Hal Porter's Honesty', in Australian Humanities Review, Issue 41, February 2007
April 11, 2024
porter, harold, edward, porter, february, 1911, september, 1984, australian, novelist, playwright, poet, short, story, writer, bornharold, edward, porter, 1911, february, 1911albert, park, victoria, australiadied29, september, 1984, 1984, aged, occupationsnove. Harold Edward Hal Porter AM 16 February 1911 29 September 1984 was an Australian novelist playwright poet and short story writer Hal PorterBornHarold Edward Porter 1911 02 16 16 February 1911Albert Park Victoria AustraliaDied29 September 1984 1984 09 29 aged 73 OccupationsNovelistplaywrightpoetshort story writer Contents 1 Biography 2 Honours 3 Posthumous reputation 4 Notes 5 Citations 6 Sources 7 Bibliography 8 External links 9 ReferencesBiography editPorter was born in Albert Park Victoria 1 grew up in Bairnsdale and worked as a journalist teacher and librarian 2 A car accident just before the outbreak of World War II prevented him from serving in the armed forces His first stories were published in 1942 and by the 1960s he was writing full time His 1963 memoir The Watcher on the Cast Iron Balcony is regarded as an Australian masterpiece His other works were less successful The literary critic Laurie Clancy said Porter s novels are with one exception less successful than his stories not least because his scorn for most of his characters becomes wearying over the length of a novel The exception Clancy thought was The Tilted Cross a historical novel set in Hobart in the 1840s 3 On 24 July 1983 he was knocked down by a hit and run driver in Ballarat and suffered severe brain damage 4 After laying in a coma for 14 months 5 he died on 29 September 1984 The driver of the vehicle was fined 500 150 for failing to stop after the accident and 100 for failing to give his name and address 6 Honours editIn the 1982 Queen s Birthday Honours Porter was made a Member of the Order of Australia AM for service to literature 7 The life and work of Porter has also been honoured since 2006 through the annual Hal Porter Short Story Competition under the auspices of the East Gippsland Art Gallery in Bairnsdale Victoria Australia 8 Posthumous reputation editAfter Porter s death his friend and biographer Mary Lord revealed in her book Hal Porter Man of Many Parts that Porter had had sexual relations with Lord s then ten year old son despite this she chose to remain friends with him Other critics notably Noel Rowe have argued that a close reading of his various works reveals a strong interest in paedophilia Notes editCitations edit Hal Porter Britannica Online Accessed 21 October 2007 Porter Hal AustLit Accessed 14 February 2007 Laurie Clancy A Reader s Guide to Australian Fiction Oxford Melbourne 1992 p 186 Barry Oakley Minitudes Diaries 1974 1997 25 July 1983 p 155 Lord 1993 pp 289 290 Lord 1993 p 290 Harold Edward Hal Porter honours pmc gov au Retrieved 14 June 2019 Hal Porter 2020 East Gippsland Art Gallery Retrieved 6 April 2024 Sources edit Lord Mary 1993 Hal Porter Man of many parts Random House ISBN 0 09 182794 9 Rowe Noel August 2007 No one but I will know Hal Porter s Honesty Australian Humanities Review 42 Bibliography editPoetry The Hexagon 1956 Elijah s Ravens 1968 In an Australian Graveyard 1974 Novels A Handful of Pennies 1958 The Tilted Cross 1961 The Right Thing 1971 Short story collections A Bachelor s Children 1962 Short Stories 1942 The Cats of Venice 1965 The Actors An image of the new Japan 1968 Mr Butterfry and Other Tales of New Japan 1970 Selected Stories 1971 Fredo Fuss Love Life 1974 The Portable Hal Porter 1978 The Clairvoyant Goat 1981 Memoirs The Watcher on the Cast Iron Balcony 1963 The Paper Chase 1966 Criss Cross 1973 The Extra 1975 Local History Bairnsdale Portrait of an Australian country town 1977 Drama The Tower 1963 The Forger 1964 The Professor 1966 Eden House 1969 External links editFirst Person Hal Porter Watcher from the Cast Iron Balcony at Radio National Hill of Content Bookshop Hal Porter Short Story Competition Hal Porter Short Story PrizeReferences editCraven Peter Porter friend and betrayer The Australian 15 16 January 1994 Review 3 Mary Lord Hal Porter Man of Many Parts Random House Sydney 1993 Noel Rowe No one but I will know Hal Porter s Honesty in Australian Humanities Review Issue 41 February 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hal Porter amp oldid 1217469211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
