Colin Arthur Roderick (27 July 1911 – 16 June 2000) was an Australian writer, editor, academic and educator.

Early life and education

Colin Roderick was born in Mount Morgan,

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

on 27 July 1911. He attended Bundaberg State School and then, while working as a school teacher, studied through the external studies programme at the

University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...

, graduating in 1936 with a B.A. He later graduated from the same university with a B.Ed., an M.A., an M.Ed., and finally, in 1954, with a Ph.D. for which he wrote a thesis on Australian novelist Rosa Praed. For part of this period he belonged to the Australian Army.Colin Roderick
austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 20 September 2020.

Career

Roderick worked as editor for the Australian publisher and bookseller

Angus & Robertson Angus & Robertson (A&R) is a major Australian bookseller, publisher and printer. As book publishers, A&R has contributed substantially to the promotion and development of Australian literature.Alison, Jennifer (2001). "Publishers and editors: A ...

from 1945 through 1965 and was the firm's director in 1961–65. During the 1950s he played an "instrumental" role in the setting up of a chair of Australian literature at the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...

. He also helped establish the

Miles Franklin Literary Award The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–195 ...

. In 1965 he was appointed the inaugural professor of English at the

James Cook University James Cook University (JCU) is a public university in North Queensland, Australia. The second oldest university in Queensland, JCU is a teaching and research institution. The university's main campuses are located in the tropical cities of Cairn ...

, in

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...

. During this period he set up the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies (FALS). The

Colin Roderick Award The Colin Roderick Award is presented annually by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies at Queensland's James Cook University for "the best book published in Australia which deals with any aspect of Australian life". It was first presented ...

, founded in 1967, is named for him.Colin Roderick Award
jcu.edu.au. Retrieved 21 September 2020.

Final years

After retiring, Roderick was made emeritus professor in English at James Cook University and subsequently received an honorary Litt.D. from that university and from the

Université de Caen The University of Caen Normandy (French: ''Université de Caen Normandie''), also known as Unicaen, is a public university in Caen, France. History The institution was founded in 1432 by John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford, the first rector ...

Honours and awards

* 1966:

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

Peter Pierce, "Farewell to literature patriot",

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

, 17 Jun 2000, p. 19. * 1974: Gold Medal of the Australian Literature Society

Select bibliography

As author

* ''The Lady and the Lawyer'', Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1956. * ''John Knatchbull from Quarterdeck to Gallows'', Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1963. * ''Miles Franklin: Her Brilliant Career'', Adelaide: Rigby, 1982. * ''Leichhardt: The Dauntless Explorer'', North Ryde: Angus & Robertson, 1988. * ''Henry Lawson: A Life'', North Ryde, N.S.W.: Angus & Robertson, 1991. * ''Banjo Paterson: Poet by Accident'', St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin, 1993.

As editor

* ''The Australian Novel: A Historical Anthology'', Sydney, William Brooks, 1945 * ''20 Australian Novelists'', Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1947. * ''Australian Round-Up : Stories From 1790 to 1950'', Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1953. *''Rose Paterson’s Illalong Letters (1873-1888)'', East Roseville: Kangaroo Press (Simon & Schuster, Australia), 2000.

Henry Lawson Memorial Edition

* ''Henry Lawson: Collected Verse, Vol. I: 1885-1900'', Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1967. * ''Henry Lawson: Collected Verse, Vol. II: 1901-1909'', Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1969. * ''Henry Lawson: Collected Verse, Vol. III: 1910-1922'', Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1967. * ''Henry Lawson: Letters, 1890-1922'', Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1970 * ''Henry Lawson: Collected Prose: Vol. I: Short Stories and Sketches, 1888-1922'', Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1972. * ''Henry Lawson: Collected Prose: Vol. II: Autobiographical and Other Writings, 1887-1922'', Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1972. * ''Henry Lawson: Collected Prose: Vol. III: Commentary'', Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1972 * ''Henry Lawson and His World: A Pictorial Biography'' (in preparation)

Personal life

Roderick died in

on 16 June 2000.

References

External links

Papers of Colin Roderick (manuscripts)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roderick, Colin 1911 births 2000 deaths 20th-century Australian educators Australian literary critics Academic staff of James Cook University University of Queensland alumni 20th-century Australian male writers Australian schoolteachers Australian editors Australian publishers (people) Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Writers from Queensland 20th-century publishers (people) People from Mount Morgan, Queensland