A career in writing : Judah Waten and the cultural politics of a literary career

Abstract

This book was completed at Griffith University, Brisbane, and the institutional support of the Faculty of Humanities was essential, as was the support of friends and colleagues, in particular Patrick Buckridge and Gillian Whitlock. Involvement on a particular project with Ian Hunter and Jeffrey Minson was crucial to the development of Chapter Seven. Parts of the book were also completed at the Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University, which provided an extremely supportive working environment. The staff of the Manuscripts Section, National Library of Australia, and the Australian Archives, Canberra, gave invaluable assistance. The research for this book began at Deakin University under the guidance of Ian Reid and then Sneja Gunew both of whom provided commentary on specific chapters as well as general intellectual guidance. Working with Hazel Rowley and Brenton Doecke provided further provocation and criticism. A large number of interviewees shared their experiences and opinions with me. Without naming them all I thank them all. A special mention should be made of Mena Werder and the late Fanny Waten for the many interviews they gave. Alice Waten gave permissions to all of Judah Waten's writings. Earlier versions of certain chapters have appeared in Australian Literary Studies, Southern Review, La revue des revues, "And What Books Do You Read? " New Studies in Australian Literature, edited by Irmtaud Petersson and Martin Duwell, andStriking