Kenneth Slessor

Poet

Birthday March 27, 1901

Birth Sign Aries

Birthplace Australia

DEATH DATE Jun 30, 1971 (70)

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About

Australian modernist poet known for Cuckooz Contrey, Earth Visitors, One Hundred Poems, and other poetry collections. Also a journalist, he worked as a World War II correspondent for the Sydney Sun.

Before Fame

He published his first poem at age sixteen, while he was a student at Sydney Church of England Grammar School. He published his first poetry collection, Thief of the Moon, in 1924.

Trivia

His best-known poems -- "Five Bells" and "Beach Burial" -- were written during the World War II years.

Family Life

He was born in New South Wales, Australia, and he spent a portion of his childhood in England. He married Noela Glasson in August of 1922.

Associated With

He was a literary contemporary of New Zealand-born poet Allen Curnow.