Thomas W. Shapcott

Thomas Shapcott, AO (born 21 March 1935) is an Australian poet, novelist, playwright, editor, librettist, short story writer and teacher.

Biography

Thomas Shapcott was born in Ipswich, Queensland, 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. ["Australian Poets and their Works", by W. Wilde, Oxford University Press, 1996]

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. [Jason Steger, "Best wishes from Patrick White: $20,000 prize for a man of letters", "Sydney Morning Herald", 11 November 2000, p.5] 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. ["The Age", Easter Edition 25-26 March 2005, "Review", p. 16]

He has written 15 collections of poetry and 6 novels.

elected 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 Australia, 1989, for his services to Literature
*Wesley Michel Wright Prize for Poetry, 1996
*New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, Special Discretionary Award, 1996
*Patrick White Award, 2000
*Harold White Fellowships, 2005. Note: to examine the papers of Ray Mathew
*Honorary Doctorate of Literature from Macquarie University

References

External links

* [http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/2004/content/standard_c1.asp?name=ShapcottT Brisbane Writers Festival Site]
* [http://www.lib.adfa.edu.au/speccoll/finding_aids/shapcott_thomas.html Academy Library - Thomas W. Shapcott]

Persondata
NAME=Shapcott, Thomas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian poet
DATE OF BIRTH=1935
PLACE OF BIRTH=Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=