Charmian Clift
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Charmian Clift (August 30, 1923 – July 8, 1969) was an Australian writer and essayist during the mid 20th Century.
Charmian Clift was born in Kiama, New South Wales.
After their 1947 marriage, their collaboration "High Valley" (1949) won them recognition as writers, Australian journalists George Johnston and Charmian Clift left Australia with their young family, working in London before relocating to the Greek Islands to try living by the pen. George Johnston returned to Australia to receive the accolades of his Miles Franklin Award Winner, "My Brother Jack". Charmian moved back to Sydney with their children in 1964, after which her novels "Mermaid Singing", "Peel Me a Lotus," and "Honour's Mimic" became successes. She was also well known for her essays in Sydney and Melbourne newspapers, with volumes including "Images in Aspic" and "The World of Charmian Clift." In the meantime their marriage was disintegrating under the pressures of their drinking habits and the problems their children had settling into life in Sydney. Her son was the poet Martin Johnston.
Clift committed suicide by taking an overdose of barbiturates on July 8, 1969 in Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This was on the eve of the publication of Johnston's "Clean Straw For Nothing." Her ashes were later scattered in the Rose Garden of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, in Sydney.
[edit] References
- Wheatley, N. 2001, The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift, Flamingo (Harper Collins), Sydney.
- Brown, M. 2004, Charmian and George, Rosenberg, Sydney.
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Clift, Charmian |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Mid-twentieth century Australian writer and essayist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 30, 1923 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Kiama, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 8, 1969 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
