Xavier Herbert (born Alfred Jackson; 15 May 190110 November 1984) was an Australian writer best known for his
Miles Franklin Award-winning novel ''
Poor Fellow My Country'' (1975). He was considered one of the elder statesmen of
Australian literature. He is also known for short story collections and his autobiography ''Disturbing Element''.
Life and career
Herbert was born Alfred Jackson in
Geraldton
Geraldton ( Wajarri: ''Jambinu'', Wilunyu: ''Jambinbirri'') is a coastal city in the Mid West region of the Australian state of Western Australia, north of the state capital, Perth.
At June 2018, Geraldton had an urban population of 37,648. ...
, Western Australia, in 1901, the illegitimate son of Amy Victoria Scammell and Benjamin Francis Herbert, a Welsh-born engine driver. He was registered at birth as Alfred Jackson, son of John Jackson, auctioneer, with whom his mother had already had two children. Before writing he worked many jobs in Western Australia and
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
; his first job was in a pharmacy at the age of fourteen. He studied pharmacy at
Perth Technical College and was registered as a pharmacist on 21 May 1923 as Alfred Xavier Herbert. He moved to Melbourne, and in 1935 enrolled at the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...
to study medicine. He started his writing career writing short stories for the popular magazine and newspaper market, publishing under a range of pseudonyms, the most common being Herbert Astor.
[
He did not publish his first book, '' Capricornia'', until 1938. ''Capricornia'' was in part based on Herbert's experiences as ]Protector of Aborigines
The role of Protector of Aborigines was first established in South Australia in 1836.
The role became established in other parts of Australia pursuant to a recommendation contained in the ''Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Abori ...
in Darwin, though it was written in London between 1930 and 1932. It won the 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 Australia's Best Novel of 1939.
The 1940s and 1950s were a relatively lean time for Herbert in terms of publication. He released ''Seven Emus'' (1959). In the 1960s he published two books, before the release of ''Poor Fellow My Country'' (1975), as well as a short story collection. ''Poor Fellow My Country'' is the longest Australian novel.
Herbert was well known for his outspoken views on indigenous issues. He was a great champion of Aboriginal peoples,[31 May 2006 (31 May 2006)]
"Remembering Herbert"
. ''Eureka Street''. Retrieved 12 July 2013. particularly those living in missions in 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_ ...
and the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
. In his personal life he was considered difficult, and his wife Sadie said it was a choice between having children and looking after Xavier.[ Aware of his own mythology, he frustrated biographers by telling unreliable stories about his life and past.][
In 1977 the artist Ray Crooke painted a ''Portrait of Xavier Herbert'' followed in 1980 by a ''Portrait of Sadie Herbert''. Professor Emeritus Laurie Hergenhan discussed the story behind the creation of these artworks, and another portrait by Crooke of Sir Zelman Cowen, in "A Tale of Three Portraits."]
Final years and death
By 1982, the widowed Herbert was working on a new novel, "Me and My Shadow" and took a two-month tour of his birth state, Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
, in 1983 to gather material for the book. On 15 January 1984, at age 83, he left his home in Redlynch, Queensland
Redlynch is a semi-rural town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Redlynch had a population of 9,728 people.
Geography
Redlynch lies along the valley crea ...
for the last time to drive in his Landrover
Land Rover is a British brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. JLR currently builds Land Rovers ...
into the centre of the country, the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
. He travelled 2,000 km to his destination: Alice Springs
Alice Springs ( aer, Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, the name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (''née'' Al ...
. In June 1984, Herbert refused to accept an award 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 ...
from the Hawke government, on the grounds that it was a British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
honour rather than a nationalist Australian one.
In September, Herbert was treated for skin grafts on his leg and carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the collection of symptoms and signs associated with median neuropathy at the carpal tunnel. Most CTS is related to idiopathic
An idiopathic disease is any disease with an unknown cause or mechanism of apparen ...
in Alice Springs, where he was visited by the artist Sidney Nolan and his wife Mary. After his treatment, Herbert moved in temporarily with his doctor, Charles Butcher, and Butcher's family, where he would live for the remaining weeks of his life.
Herbert died on 10 November 1984 from kidney failure
Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney failure is classified as eit ...
. He was commemorated by the Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, as "a prodigiously committed Australian". He was buried in Alice Springs, together with his wife's ashes, in a ceremony officiated by Aboriginal activist Pat Dodson
Patrick Lionel Djargun Dodson (born 29 January 1948) is an Australian politician representing Western Australia in the Australian Senate. He is a Yawuru elder from Broome, Western Australia. He has been chairman of the Council for Aboriginal ...
in recognition of Herbert's long support for the rights of Aboriginal Australians.
Published works
Novels
*'' Capricornia'' (1938)
*'' Seven Emus'' (1959)
*'' Soldiers' Women'' (1961)
*'' Poor Fellow My Country'' (1975) – Miles Franklin Award Winner, 1975
Short story collections
*''Larger than Life'' (1963)
*''South of Capricornia'' (1990) – Edited by Russel McDougal
*''Xavier Herbert'' (1992) – Edited by Frances de Groen and Peter Pierce
Non-fiction
*''Disturbing Element'' (1963) – Autobiography
*''Letters'' (2002) – Edited by Frances De Groen, Laurie Hergenhan
*''Letters from Xavier Herbert, 1980–1983'' (unpublished), By Peggy Hayes
References
Xavier Herbert biographies
*
*
Xavier Herbert literary criticism
*
A Long and Winding Road: Xavier Herbert's Literary Journey''
– Sean Monahan (2003) â€
External links
A book on Herbert's novels at www.xavier-herbert-novels.com. The book can be read on site or downloaded.
Frances Devlin-Glass 'The Eco-Centric Self and the Sacred in Xavier Herbert's ''Poor Fellow My Country'' ' ''JASAL'' 8 (2008)
Fiona Probyn-Rapsey 'Some Whites are Whiter than others: the Whitefella Skin Politics of Xavier Herbert and Cecil Cook' ''JASAL'' Special Issue 2007
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herbert, Xavier
1901 births
1984 deaths
Australian male short story writers
Miles Franklin Award winners
ALS Gold Medal winners
People from Geraldton
20th-century Australian novelists
Australian male novelists
Australian people of Welsh descent
Writers from Western Australia
20th-century Australian short story writers