David Neil Ireland (24 August 1927 – 26 July 2022) was an Australian novelist.

Biography

David Ireland was born in Lakemba in New South Wales in 1927. Before taking up full-time writing in 1973, he undertook the classic writer's apprenticeship by working in a variety of jobs, ranging from

greenskeeper A Greenskeeper (or Course Superintendent) is a person responsible for the care and upkeep of a golf course or a sports turf playing surface. Work description and duties A greenskeeper maintains a golf course's or country club's grounds. Thi ...

to an extended period in an oil refinery. This latter job inspired his second (and best-known) novel, '' The Unknown Industrial Prisoner'', which brought him recognition in the early 1970s. It is still considered by many critics to be one of the best and most original Australian novels of the period. He won the Miles Franklin Award three times (1971, 1976 and 1979). He is one of only four Australian writers to win the Award more than twice; the others are

Thea Astley Thea Beatrice May Astley (25 August 1925 – 17 August 2004) was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She was a prolific writer who was published for over 40 years from 1958. At the time of her death, she had won more Miles Franklin ...

(4) and

Tim Winton Timothy John Winton (born 4 August 1960) is an Australian writer. He has written novels, children's books, non-fiction books, and short stories. In 1997, he was named a Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia, and has won the Miles Fr ...

(4), and Peter Carey (3). Ireland died on 26 July 2022 aged 94.

Honours and awards

* 1966 – winner The Advertiser Literary Competition for ''The Chantic Bird'' * 1971 – winner Miles Franklin Award for '' The Unknown Industrial Prisoner'' * 1976 – winner Miles Franklin Award for ''

The Glass Canoe ''The Glass Canoe'' (1976) is a novel by Australian author David Ireland. It won the Miles Franklin Award in 1976. Plot outline The novel is about a man who spends his life at the pub, seeing the world through his beer glass – a glass can ...

'' * 1979 – winner Miles Franklin Award for ''

A Woman of the Future ''A Woman of the Future'' (1979) is a novel by Australian author David Ireland (author), David Ireland. It won the Miles Franklin Award in 1979 and was joint winner of the Age Book of the Year award in 1980. As a result of this novel, Ireland ...

'' * 1980 – joint winner ''The Age'' Book of the Year Award ''

'' * 1985 – winner

Australian Literature Society Gold Medal The Australian Literature Society Gold Medal (ALS Gold Medal) is awarded annually by the Association for the Study of Australian Literature for "an outstanding literary work in the preceding calendar year." From 1928 to 1974 it was awarded by the ...

for '' Archimedes and the Seagle'' He was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

(AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 1981.

Bibliography

Novels

* ''

The Chantic Bird ''The Chantic Bird'' (1968) is the debut novel by Australian writer David Ireland. Plot summary The novel follows the story of a young, psychotic teenage boy living on the fringes of society in Sydney. His only interactions with the world are ...

'' (1968) * '' The Unknown Industrial Prisoner'' (1971) * ''The Flesheaters'' (1972) * ''Burn'' (1974) * ''

'' (1976) * ''

'' (1979) * ''City of Women'' (1981) * '' Archimedes and the Seagle'' (1984) * ''Bloodfather'' (1987) * ''The Chosen'' (1997) * ''

The World Repair Video Game ''The World Repair Video Game'' (2015) is a novel by Australian author David Ireland (author), David Ireland. The novel was serialised in five parts then published as a limited edition hardback by Island magazine and was shortlisted in the Ficti ...

'' (2015)

Drama

* ''Image in the Clay'' (1964)

References

External links

*
David Ireland's Australian theatre credits
at

AusStage AusStage: The Australian Live Performance Database is an online database which records information about live performances in Australia, providing records of productions from the first recorded performance in Australia (1789, by convicts) up unt ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ireland, David 1927 births 2022 deaths Miles Franklin Award winners ALS Gold Medal winners Members of the Order of Australia Writers from New South Wales 20th-century Australian novelists Australian male novelists