Thomas W. Shapcott
Encyclopedia
Thomas William Shapcott AO (born 21 March 1935) is an Australian poet, novelist, playwright, editor, librettist, short story writer and teacher.
, and attended the Ipswich Grammar School
with his twin brother, who was born on the previous day (20 March 1935). (The writer is left-handed, but his twin is right-handed.) He left school at 15 to work in his father's accountancy business, but completed an accountancy degree in 1961. In 1967 he graduated in arts from the University of Queensland
.
His first artistic impulse was to be a composer. By age 19, he had written a number of works, but he turned away from music when he discovered a string quartet he had written unconsciously plagiarised a chamber work by Ernest Bloch
. He then worked as a tax accountant, a profession that he pursued for 27 years.
He was director of the Australia Council
's Literature Board for seven years, and Executive Director of the National Book Council (1992–97). He was Professor of Creative Writing at Adelaide University.
He has written 15 collections of poetry and 6 novels.
Thomas Shapcott was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia
in 1989.
Novels
Biography
Thomas William Shapcott was born in Ipswich, QueenslandIpswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
, and attended the Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Ipswich, a city situated on the Bremer River in South East Queensland, Australia...
with his twin brother, who was born on the previous day (20 March 1935). (The writer is left-handed, but his twin is right-handed.) He left school at 15 to work in his father's accountancy business, but completed an accountancy degree in 1961. In 1967 he graduated in arts from the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
.
His first artistic impulse was to be a composer. By age 19, he had written a number of works, but he turned away from music when he discovered a string quartet he had written unconsciously plagiarised a chamber work by Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch was a Swiss-born American composer.-Life:Bloch was born in Geneva and began playing the violin at age 9. He began composing soon afterwards. He studied music at the conservatory in Brussels, where his teachers included the celebrated Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe...
. He then worked as a tax accountant, a profession that he pursued for 27 years.
He was director of the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
's Literature Board for seven years, and Executive Director of the National Book Council (1992–97). He was Professor of Creative Writing at Adelaide University.
He has written 15 collections of poetry and 6 novels.
Thomas Shapcott was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1989.
Selected list of works
Poetry (collections)- Time on Fire
- The Mankind Thing
- Shabbytown
- Calendar
- In the Beginning
- Chekhov's Mongoose
- Spirit Wrestlers
Novels
- White Stag of Exile
- Mona's Gift
Awards
- Grace Leven Poetry Prize, 1961: winner for "Time on Fire".
- Myer Award for Australian Poetry, 1967: winner for A taste of salt water
- C.J. Dennis Memorial Poetry Competition, Open Section, 1976: commended for The five senses
- Canada-Australia Literary Award, 1978
- Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, 1989, for his services to Literature - Golden Wreath of the Struga Poetry EveningsStruga Poetry EveningsStruga Poetry Evenings is an international poetry festival held annually in Struga, Republic of Macedonia. During the several decades of its existence, the Festival has awarded its most prestigious award, the Golden Wreath, to some of the most notable international poets, including: Mahmoud...
laureate, 1990 - Wesley Michel Wright Prize for Poetry, 1996
- New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, Special Discretionary Award, 1996
- Patrick White AwardPatrick White AwardThe Patrick White Award is an annual literary prize established by Patrick White. White used his 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature award to establish a trust for this prize....
, 2000 - Harold WhiteHarold Leslie WhiteSir Harold Leslie White CBE was the Parliamentary Librarian of Australia from 1947 to 1960, and National Librarian from 1960 until his retirement in 1970, when he was knighted.-Further reading:...
Fellowships, 2005. Note: to examine the papers of Ray MathewRay MathewRay Mathew , an Australian author, was born in Sydney, NSW. Mathew wrote poetry, drama, radio plays and filmscripts, short stories, novels, arts and literature criticism, and other non-fiction... - Honorary Doctorate of Literature from Macquarie UniversityMacquarie UniversityMacquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...