Zora Bernice May Cross was born on 18 May 1890 at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, to Earnest William Cross and Mary Louisa Eliza Ann. Her father was a Sydney born accountant.[1] Cross published and was known for her serialised novels, books of poems and children's verse and inherited her love for literature from both her parents. She was educated at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, Burwood Public School, Sydney Girls' High School and then Sydney Teachers' College from 1909 to 1910. As a child Zora was a prolific contributor to the Children's Corner in the Australian Town and Country Journal, where she attracted the attention of the editor, writer Ethel Turner, who went on to be a significant friend and mentor throughout Zora's writing career.[2]
Zora combined her teaching career with writing and acting, including tours with the Cherry Abraham's Comedy Costume Company in Queensland and with JC Williamson's theatre company.[2] On 11 March 1911, she married fellow actor Stuart Smith but later refused to live with him. The marriage was dissolved on 10 September 1922. In September 1914 she gave birth to a son, Normand (later known as Teddy), at Lauriston Private Hospital, Mosman, but no father was listed on the birth certificate. She taught for three years and then worked as a journalist, for the Boomerang and subsequently as a freelance writer.[3]
By this time Zora had formed a lasting relationship with the writer David McKee Wright,[4] whom she married in 1923. They lived in the Blue Mountains village of Glenbrook where they had two daughters, Davidina and Maeve (known as April).
Cross Street in the Canberra suburb of Cook is named in her honour.[5]
Work
In 1916 Zora Cross submitted her first novel, on an aboriginal theme but the publisher refused to publish this work. That same year a book of poems, A Song of Mother Love, was published.
In 1917 Cross published Songs of Love and Life, some of which had already appeared in The Bulletin, which was highly influential in Australian culture and politics until after the First World War, and was then noted for its nationalist, pro-labour, and pro-republican writing. This book and her book of similar poems, The Lilt of Life in 1918, both published by Angus & Robertson, were an expression of her love for David McKee Wright. Songs of Love and Life attracted widespread attention because of its erotic content and sold out in three days.[2][6]
In 1918 Zora also wrote the children's verse The City of Riddle-mee-ree (1918), and then the more sombre Elegy on an Australian Schoolboy (1921), in memory of her 19-year-old soldier brother, John Skyring Cross.
Her 1924 book Daughters of the Seven Mile illustrated her awareness of developing social and economic stresses in Australia.[7]
Zora wrote about controversial subjects for the time such as sex, childbirth, Aboriginal communities and the effects of war on women who are left behind.
As Bernice May, Rosa Carmen and Daisy M, Zora contributed regularly in the 1930s to the Australian Women's Mirror.[3] As Bernice May she wrote a significant series of interviews with contemporary Australian women writers.[2]
In later years Zora drew on a lifetime interest in Ancient Rome and Julius Caesar. Her novel The Victor was serialised in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1933 and received favourable reviews.
Throughout her life Zora supported herself and her children by acting, teaching and as a freelance journalist. The Commonwealth Literary Fund, (precursor to the Australia Council for the Arts) prompted by the Fellowship of Australian Writers, awarded her a pension.[2]
Bibliography
Novels
Daughters of the Seven Mile, London: Hutchinson (1924)[8]
The Lute-Girl of Rainyvale, London: Hutchinson(1925)
Sons of the Seven Mile, London: Hutchinson (1927)
Moonstone Luck, Sydney Morning Herald (1930)
The Victor, Sydney Morning Herald (1933)
This Hectic Age, Sydney: London Book Co.(1944) also published as Night Side of Sydney
^"Australian Capital Territory National Memorials Ordinance 1928-1972". Australian Government Gazette. Periodic (National : 1974–1977). 13 April 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
^Kale, Neha (1 November 2019). "The forgotten erotic sonnets of Zora Cross". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
^Cross, Zora (1924), Daughters of the Seven Mile : the love story of an Australian woman, Hutchinson, retrieved 25 November 2019
^"ZORA CROSS". The Queenslander. No. 5914. Queensland, Australia. 7 June 1924. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"ZORA CROSS". The Central Queensland Herald. Vol. 2, no. 99. Queensland, Australia. 19 November 1931. p. 11. Retrieved 25 November 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^Steele, J. A. (James A.); Cross, Zora, 1890-1964 (1937), "Dream travel two-part song / words by Zora Cross ; music by J.A. Steele", Allan's Part-songs, Allan & Co, retrieved 25 November 2019{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Works by Zora Cross at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
Dorothy Green, 'Cross, Zora Bernice May (1890–1964)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cross-zora-bernice-may-5828/text9897, published first in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, (MUP), 1981
June 29, 2023
zora, cross, zora, bernice, cross, 1890, january, 1964, australian, poet, best, selling, novelist, journalist, bornzora, bernice, cross, 1890, 1890eagle, farm, queensland, australiadied22, january, 1964, 1964, aged, glenbrook, south, wales, australianationalit. Zora Bernice May Cross 18 May 1890 22 January 1964 was an Australian poet best selling novelist and journalist Zora CrossBornZora Bernice May Cross 1890 05 18 18 May 1890Eagle Farm Queensland AustraliaDied22 January 1964 1964 01 22 aged 73 Glenbrook New South Wales AustraliaNationalityAustralianOther namesBernice MayEducationIpswich Girls Grammar SchoolSydney Girls High SchoolBurwood Superior Public SchoolAlma materSydney Teachers CollegeOccupation s poet and novelistKnown forSongs of Love and LifeSpousesStuart Smith m 1911 div 1922 wbr David Wright m 1923 died 1928 wbr Children3Parent s Ernest William Cross accountant and Mary Louisa Eliza Ann nee Skyring Contents 1 Life 2 Work 3 Bibliography 3 1 Novels 3 2 Poetry collections 3 3 Poetry 3 4 Lyrics 3 5 Non fiction 4 References 5 External linksLife EditZora Bernice May Cross was born on 18 May 1890 at Eagle Farm Brisbane to Earnest William Cross and Mary Louisa Eliza Ann Her father was a Sydney born accountant 1 Cross published and was known for her serialised novels books of poems and children s verse and inherited her love for literature from both her parents She was educated at Ipswich Girls Grammar School Burwood Public School Sydney Girls High School and then Sydney Teachers College from 1909 to 1910 As a child Zora was a prolific contributor to the Children s Corner in the Australian Town and Country Journal where she attracted the attention of the editor writer Ethel Turner who went on to be a significant friend and mentor throughout Zora s writing career 2 Zora combined her teaching career with writing and acting including tours with the Cherry Abraham s Comedy Costume Company in Queensland and with JC Williamson s theatre company 2 On 11 March 1911 she married fellow actor Stuart Smith but later refused to live with him The marriage was dissolved on 10 September 1922 In September 1914 she gave birth to a son Normand later known as Teddy at Lauriston Private Hospital Mosman but no father was listed on the birth certificate She taught for three years and then worked as a journalist for the Boomerang and subsequently as a freelance writer 3 By this time Zora had formed a lasting relationship with the writer David McKee Wright 4 whom she married in 1923 They lived in the Blue Mountains village of Glenbrook where they had two daughters Davidina and Maeve known as April Cross Street in the Canberra suburb of Cook is named in her honour 5 Work EditIn 1916 Zora Cross submitted her first novel on an aboriginal theme but the publisher refused to publish this work That same year a book of poems A Song of Mother Love was published In 1917 Cross published Songs of Love and Life some of which had already appeared in The Bulletin which was highly influential in Australian culture and politics until after the First World War and was then noted for its nationalist pro labour and pro republican writing This book and her book of similar poems The Lilt of Life in 1918 both published by Angus amp Robertson were an expression of her love for David McKee Wright Songs of Love and Life attracted widespread attention because of its erotic content and sold out in three days 2 6 In 1918 Zora also wrote the children s verse The City of Riddle mee ree 1918 and then the more sombre Elegy on an Australian Schoolboy 1921 in memory of her 19 year old soldier brother John Skyring Cross Her 1924 book Daughters of the Seven Mile illustrated her awareness of developing social and economic stresses in Australia 7 Zora wrote about controversial subjects for the time such as sex childbirth Aboriginal communities and the effects of war on women who are left behind As Bernice May Rosa Carmen and Daisy M Zora contributed regularly in the 1930s to the Australian Women s Mirror 3 As Bernice May she wrote a significant series of interviews with contemporary Australian women writers 2 In later years Zora drew on a lifetime interest in Ancient Rome and Julius Caesar Her novel The Victor was serialised in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1933 and received favourable reviews Throughout her life Zora supported herself and her children by acting teaching and as a freelance journalist The Commonwealth Literary Fund precursor to the Australia Council for the Arts prompted by the Fellowship of Australian Writers awarded her a pension 2 Bibliography EditNovels Edit Daughters of the Seven Mile London Hutchinson 1924 8 The Lute Girl of Rainyvale London Hutchinson 1925 Sons of the Seven Mile London Hutchinson 1927 Moonstone Luck Sydney Morning Herald 1930 The Victor Sydney Morning Herald 1933 This Hectic Age Sydney London Book Co 1944 also published as Night Side of SydneyPoetry collections Edit A Song of Mother Love 1916 Songs of Love and Life 1917 9 The Lilt of Life 1918 The City of Riddle Me Ree 1918 Poetry Edit Elegy on an Australian Schoolboy Sydney Angus amp Robertson 1921 Lyrics Edit Dream travel two part song 1937 10 Non fiction Edit An Introduction to the Study of Australian Literature Sydney Teachers College Press 1922 References Edit Green Dorothy Cross Zora Bernice May 1890 1964 Canberra National Centre of Biography Australian National University a b c d e Perkins Cathy 2019 The Shelf Life of Zora Cross Australia Monash University Publishing ISBN 9781925835533 a b Adelaide Debra 1988 Australian women writers a bibliographic guide Pandora p 42 ISBN 978 0 86358 148 9 Old Qld poetry Zora Cross oldqldpoetry com Retrieved 25 November 2019 Australian Capital Territory National Memorials Ordinance 1928 1972 Australian Government Gazette Periodic National 1974 1977 13 April 1976 p 1 Retrieved 11 January 2020 Kale Neha 1 November 2019 The forgotten erotic sonnets of Zora Cross The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 25 November 2019 Cross Zora 1924 Daughters of the Seven Mile the love story of an Australian woman Hutchinson retrieved 25 November 2019 ZORA CROSS The Queenslander No 5914 Queensland Australia 7 June 1924 p 3 Retrieved 25 November 2019 via National Library of Australia ZORA CROSS The Central Queensland Herald Vol 2 no 99 Queensland Australia 19 November 1931 p 11 Retrieved 25 November 2019 via National Library of Australia Steele J A James A Cross Zora 1890 1964 1937 Dream travel two part song words by Zora Cross music by J A Steele Allan s Part songs Allan amp Co retrieved 25 November 2019 a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link External links EditWorks by or about Zora Cross at Internet Archive Works by Zora Cross at LibriVox public domain audiobooks Dorothy Green Cross Zora Bernice May 1890 1964 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University http adb anu edu au biography cross zora bernice may 5828 text9897 published first in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 8 MUP 1981 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zora Cross amp oldid 1160454894, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
