Hal Porter
Encyclopedia
Harold Edward Porter (16 February 1911 – 29 September 1984) was an Australian novelist, playwright, poet and short-story writer.
Porter was born in Albert Park
, Victoria, grew up in Bairnsdale, Victoria
and worked as a journalist, teacher and librarian. A car accident just before the outbreak of war prevented him from serving in World War II. His first stories were published in 1942 and by the 1960s he was writing full time. His 1963 memoir, The Watcher on the Cast Iron Balcony, is regarded as an Australian masterpiece. His other works were less successful. Shockingly, his friend and biographer Mary Lord revealed in her book Hal Porter: Man of Many Parts that Porter had had sexual relations with Lord's then ten-year-old son; despite this, she chose to remain friends with him. Other critics, notably Noel Rowe, have argued that a close reading of his various works reveals a strong interest in paedophilia.
Porter was born in Albert Park
Albert Park, Victoria
Albert Park is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip. At the 2006 Census, Albert Park had a population of 5827....
, Victoria, grew up in Bairnsdale, Victoria
Bairnsdale, Victoria
Bairnsdale is a small city in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. With a population at the 2006 census of 11,282, it is a major regional centre of eastern Victoria along with Traralgon and Sale....
and worked as a journalist, teacher and librarian. A car accident just before the outbreak of war prevented him from serving in World War II. His first stories were published in 1942 and by the 1960s he was writing full time. His 1963 memoir, The Watcher on the Cast Iron Balcony, is regarded as an Australian masterpiece. His other works were less successful. Shockingly, his friend and biographer Mary Lord revealed in her book Hal Porter: Man of Many Parts that Porter had had sexual relations with Lord's then ten-year-old son; despite this, she chose to remain friends with him. Other critics, notably Noel Rowe, have argued that a close reading of his various works reveals a strong interest in paedophilia.
External links
- First Person - Hal Porter, Watcher from the Cast-Iron Balcony at Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
- Hill of Content Bookshop Hal Porter Short Story Competition
- “No one but I will know”: Hal Porter’s Honesty by Noel Rowe