Kit Denton
Encyclopedia
Arnold Christopher "Kit" Denton (5 May 1928 – April 1997) was a British-born Australian writer, soldier and broadcaster. He was also the father of comedian and television presenter Andrew Denton
.
until he joined the British Army
where he served a radio broadcaster with the British Forces Broadcasting Service
in Germany.
. From 1951 until 1965, he worked for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
as an announcer, and eventually moved on to screenwriting, producing and directing television. In the 1970s, an anonymous television critic for The Australian
newspaper was revealed to be Kit Denton, writing under the pseudonym
"Janus".
Denton had an abiding interest in military history, and is best known for his novel The Breaker (1973), based on the story of Breaker Morant
. Although it is often considered that the film Breaker Morant
was based on Denton's book, it was in fact based on a play by Kenneth G. Ross
, who successfully sued publisher Angus & Robertson
when they publicised Denton's novel as the source for the film. Denton also wrote For Queen and Commonwealth, about British military forces in the late 19th century, and Gallipoli: One Long Grave (1986), a book about the Battle of Gallipoli
.
announced a new A$25,000 writing scholarship in his father's name: the Kit Denton Fellowship
, which would be presented to members of the Australian Writers' Guild
from 2007 onwards.
Andrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
.
Early life
Born in London, England in 1928, Denton was raised in the East EndEast End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
until he joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
where he served a radio broadcaster with the British Forces Broadcasting Service
British Forces Broadcasting Service
The British Forces Broadcasting Service provides radio and television programmes for HM Forces, and their dependents, in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Kosovo, the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Tristan da Cunha as well as a live satellite...
in Germany.
Career
He emigrated to Australia in the late 1940s, and worked as a gold miner in Kalgoorlie, Western AustraliaKalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
. From 1951 until 1965, he worked for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
as an announcer, and eventually moved on to screenwriting, producing and directing television. In the 1970s, an anonymous television critic for The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
newspaper was revealed to be Kit Denton, writing under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Janus".
Denton had an abiding interest in military history, and is best known for his novel The Breaker (1973), based on the story of Breaker Morant
Breaker Morant
Harry 'Breaker' Harbord Morant was an Anglo-Australian drover, horseman, poet, soldier and convicted war criminal whose skill with horses earned him the nickname "The Breaker"...
. Although it is often considered that the film Breaker Morant
Breaker Morant (film)
Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian film about the court martial of Breaker Morant, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring British actor Edward Woodward as Harry "Breaker" Morant...
was based on Denton's book, it was in fact based on a play by Kenneth G. Ross
Kenneth G. Ross
Kenneth Graham Ross is an Australian playwright and screenwriter best known for writing the 1978 stage play Breaker Morant, that was based on the life of Australian soldier Harry "Breaker" Morant....
, who successfully sued publisher Angus & Robertson
Angus & Robertson
Angus & Robertson is a bookstore chain in Australia. Its first bookstore was opened in 110½ Market Street, Sydney by Scotsman David Angus in 1884; it sold second-hand books. In 1886, he went into partnership with fellow Scot, George Robertson with whom he had worked earlier.- Bookselling history...
when they publicised Denton's novel as the source for the film. Denton also wrote For Queen and Commonwealth, about British military forces in the late 19th century, and Gallipoli: One Long Grave (1986), a book about the Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
.
Death
Denton died in April 1997 at his home in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.Legacy
In August 2006, Denton's son AndrewAndrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
announced a new A$25,000 writing scholarship in his father's name: the Kit Denton Fellowship
Kit Denton Fellowship
The Kit Denton Fellowship is an Australian literary award given annually by the Australian Writers' Guild . It is presented to a writer who shows courage and excellence in performance writing. The winner receives $25,000 AUD to support them in their writing work and assist them in developing a...
, which would be presented to members of the Australian Writers' Guild
Australian Writers' Guild
The Australian Writers' Guild is the professional association for all performance writers, that is, writers for film, television, radio, theatre, video and new media. The AWG was established in 1962 and is recognised throughout the industry in Australia as being the voice of performance writers...
from 2007 onwards.
External links
- Obituary from NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard 22 April 1997
- Kit and Betty Denton, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 1953 – photography by Terence and Margaret Spencer
- Address delivered by Kit Denton, to the Canberra Times literary luncheon, 12 October 1983 (sound recording) – introduction by Graham Wilkinson and Peter Fuller