Martin Johnston papers, 1952-1994

MLMSS 6216/Boxes 1-7
MLMSS 6216/Box 8X
GR 257

fonds

1952-1994

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs, Musical Sound Recordings

134775

Sound Recording : GR 257

1.45 metres of textual material (7 boxes, 1 outsize box) - manuscript, typescript, and printed
Clippings
Photographs
1 Sound Recording

Martin Johnston (1947-1990), poet, novelist, book reviewer and sub-titler, was born in Sydney on 12 November 1947, son of George Johnston and Charmian Clift. His formative years were spent in Europe. He was educated in Greece at the Kalymnos and Hydra Primary Schools, and the Hydra Gymnasium (High School), completing his secondary education at North Sydney Boys' High School after his family returned to Sydney. He commenced an Arts degree at Sydney University but left after two years to become a cadet journalist with the "Sydney Morning Herald". Two years later he resigned to become a freelance writer and book reviewer. In 1980 Johnston joined the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) as a subeditor and subtitler. He married criminologist Roseanne Bonney in 1982.
Johnston was a member of the Editorial Board of New Poetry during 1971-1972. He received two Literature Board awards: in 1973 a one year $5000 Young Writer's Scholarship to write a biography of his parents, and in 1979 a further $3000 Special Purpose Grant to continue his research. The project was never completed.
Johnston lived in Greece with Nadia Wheatley from 1975-1978. He later returned to Europe several times with Roseanne Bonney, and in 1988 took a year's leave from SBS to live abroad and devote his time to writing.
Johnston's published works include four volumes of poetry: "Shadowmass" (1971); "Ithaka" - modern Greek poetry in translation (1973); "The Sea Cucumber" (1978); "The Typewriter Considered as a Bee-Trap" (1984); one novel: "Cicada Gambit" (1984) and numerous book reviews and essays.
The untimely deaths of Johnston's mother, father, sister and half-sister between 1969 and 1988 affected him profoundly, and towards the end of his life the effects of alcohol severely affected his literary output. He died on 21 June 1990 at the age of 42.

Correspondence, 1972-1994
European notes, 1988-1989
Literary manuscripts, 1975-1990
Manuscripts collected, ?1970-1982
Financial records, 1972-1990
Other personal and miscellaneous records, 1970-1990
Printed material, 1967-1993
Photographs, 1952-1982
Sound recordings, 1973

This collection comprises 9 record series. You may navigate to a more detailed description of each series from this collection record.

Partly restricted: Applies to MLMSS 6217/Box 1
For access to this collection please submit your request through Ask a Librarian: Any requests for access will be referred to the Library, Head of Manuscripts.

Reproduction Restricted