Geoffrey Dutton facts for kids

Geoffrey Piers Henry Dutton AO (August 2, 1922 – September 17, 1998) was a famous Australian writer and historian. He wrote many different kinds of books, including poetry, stories, and biographies. He also helped start a publishing company.

About Geoffrey Dutton

Geoffrey Dutton was born in 1922 in South Australia. His family was well-known in the area. They lived on a large property called Anlaby Station. His grandfather, Henry Dutton, was a respected figure. His parents were Henry Hampden Dutton and Emily Dutton.

Geoffrey went to the University of Adelaide to study. While there, he wrote for student newspapers like On Dit and Angry Penguins. He later studied at Magdalen College at Oxford University.

During his career, Dutton wrote or edited more than 200 books. These included poems, fiction stories, and life stories of famous people. He also wrote about art, history, and travel. He even wrote novels for children.

In 1965, he helped start an Australian publishing company called Sun Books. He worked with Max Harris and Brian Stonier to create it.

Geoffrey Dutton was given a special award, the Officer of the Order of Australia, in 1976. He passed away in 1998.

Awards He Won

Geoffrey Dutton received several awards for his writing:

• Grace Leven Prize for Poetry, 1958: He won this for his poetry book Antipodes in Shoes.
• FAW Christopher Brennan Award, 1993: He also won this award.

His Books

Geoffrey Dutton wrote many different types of books. Here are some examples:

Novels (Fiction Stories)

• The Mortal and the Marble (1950)
• Andy (1968)
• Tamara (1970)
• Queen Emma of the South Seas (1976)
• The Eye Opener (1982)
• Flying Low: A Novel (1992)

Short Stories

• The Españo

Poetry Books

• Night Flight and Sunrise (1944)
• Antipodes in Shoes (1958)
• Flowers and Fury: Poems (1962)
• On My Island: Poems (1967)
• New and Selected Poems (1993)

Books for Children

• Tisi and the Yabby (1965)
• Seal Bay (1966)
• Tisi and the Pageant (1968)
• The Prowler (1982)

Non-fiction Books (True Stories)

• A Long Way South (1953)
• Founder of a City: The Life of Colonel William Light (1960) - This book was about the person who planned the city of Adelaide.
• Patrick White (1961)
• Australia and the Monarchy (1966)
• Edward John Eyre: The Hero as Murderer (1967)
• Snow on the Saltbush: The Australian Literary Experience (1984)
• The Squatters (1985) - This book was about his own life at Anlaby Station.
• Out in the Open: An Autobiography (1994) - This is his autobiography, telling his life story.

Books He Edited

Geoffrey Dutton also helped put together many books by other writers:

• Australia's Censorship Crisis (1970) - with Max Harris
• Australian Verse from 1805 : A Continuum (1976)
• Republican Australia? (1977)
• Seven Cities of Australia (1978)
• The Vital Decade: Ten Years of Australian Art and Letters (1968) - with Max Harris
• The Australian Bedside Book (1987) - This book featured writings from many famous Australian authors.