Gwen Harwood Research Paper
Gwen Harwood (maiden name Gwen Foster) * 1920 – 1995 * Australian Poet * Mother of author John Harwood * 420 works * 386 Poems * 13 Librettos
EARLY LIFE
Born in Tarringa, Queensland.
Brought up in Brisbane.
She attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School and was an organist at All Saints Church when she was young. She completed a music teacher's diploma, and also worked as a typist at the War Damage Commission from 1942.
PERSONAL LIFE
Gwen moved to Tasmania after her marriage to linguist William Harwood in September 1945. Here she developed her lifelong interest in the work of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein "which informs her entire opus”. She developed an interest in literature, philosophy and music.
Her father played piano, violin, guitar and the flute. Both Gwen and her brother were given piano lessons, and originally Gwen wanted to be a musician. Gwen's grandmother introduced her to poetry - this inspired her and became her lifelong calling and passion.
CAREER …show more content…
She had written poetry for many years, and her first poem was published in Meanjin in 1944, but her work did not start appearing regularly in journals and books until the 1960s.
Her first book of poems, titled Poems, was published in 1963, followed in 1968 by Poems Volume II. Other books include The Lion's Bride (1981), Bone Scan (1988), and The Present Tense (1995). There are also several versions of a Selected Poems, including one from Penguin in 2001.
Harwood used a range of pseudonyms in her early work, such as Walter Lehmann, W.W. Hagendoor (an anagram of her name), Francis Geyer, Timothy (TF) Kline, Miriam Stone, and Alan Carvosso.
She also wrote libretti for composers such as Larry Sitsky, James Penberthy, Don Kay and Ian
Cugley.
She corresponded over the years with several poet friends, including Vincent Buckley, A. D. Hope, Vivian Smith, and Norman Talbot, and served as President of the Tasmanian Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers.
Her poetry has been used by many students who are completing the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in New South Wales, Australia, by Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) students in Victoria, Australia, and by Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) students in Western Australia, Australia.
AWARDS * 1942: The pancake manor * 1958: Meanjin Poetry Prize * 1959: Meanjin Poetry Prize * 1975: Grace Leven Prize for Poetry * 1977: Robert Frost Medallion (now known as Christopher Brennan Award) * 1978: Patrick White Award * 1980: The Age Book of the Year Award Book of the Year and Non-fiction Award …… for Blessed City * 1988: University of Tasmania Honorary D.Litt * 1989: Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) * 1989: Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Bone Scan * 1990: J.J. Bray Award * 1994: University of Queensland Honorary doctorate * 1994: Latrobe University Honorary doctorate
EARLY LIFE
Born in Tarringa, Queensland.
Brought up in Brisbane.
She attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School and was an organist at All Saints Church when she was young. She completed a music teacher's diploma, and also worked as a typist at the War Damage Commission from 1942.
PERSONAL LIFE
Gwen moved to Tasmania after her marriage to linguist William Harwood in September 1945. Here she developed her lifelong interest in the work of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein "which informs her entire opus”. She developed an interest in literature, philosophy and music.
Her father played piano, violin, guitar and the flute. Both Gwen and her brother were given piano lessons, and originally Gwen wanted to be a musician. Gwen's grandmother introduced her to poetry - this inspired her and became her lifelong calling and passion.
CAREER …show more content…
She had written poetry for many years, and her first poem was published in Meanjin in 1944, but her work did not start appearing regularly in journals and books until the 1960s.
Her first book of poems, titled Poems, was published in 1963, followed in 1968 by Poems Volume II. Other books include The Lion's Bride (1981), Bone Scan (1988), and The Present Tense (1995). There are also several versions of a Selected Poems, including one from Penguin in 2001.
Harwood used a range of pseudonyms in her early work, such as Walter Lehmann, W.W. Hagendoor (an anagram of her name), Francis Geyer, Timothy (TF) Kline, Miriam Stone, and Alan Carvosso.
She also wrote libretti for composers such as Larry Sitsky, James Penberthy, Don Kay and Ian
Cugley.
She corresponded over the years with several poet friends, including Vincent Buckley, A. D. Hope, Vivian Smith, and Norman Talbot, and served as President of the Tasmanian Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers.
Her poetry has been used by many students who are completing the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in New South Wales, Australia, by Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) students in Victoria, Australia, and by Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) students in Western Australia, Australia.
AWARDS * 1942: The pancake manor * 1958: Meanjin Poetry Prize * 1959: Meanjin Poetry Prize * 1975: Grace Leven Prize for Poetry * 1977: Robert Frost Medallion (now known as Christopher Brennan Award) * 1978: Patrick White Award * 1980: The Age Book of the Year Award Book of the Year and Non-fiction Award …… for Blessed City * 1988: University of Tasmania Honorary D.Litt * 1989: Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) * 1989: Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Bone Scan * 1990: J.J. Bray Award * 1994: University of Queensland Honorary doctorate * 1994: Latrobe University Honorary doctorate