John Manifold

Background

He was born in Melbourne, into a well known Camperdown family.

Education

He was educated at Geelong Grammar School, and read modern languages at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Career

While in Cambridge he joined the Communist Party of Great Britain. He was involved in an attempt to create a successor (Poetry and the People) to Left Review, when the latter folded in 1938. He then worked in Germany, in publishing.

During World World War II he served in intelligence in the British Army, in the Middle East, Africa and France.

He was a published war poet. Trident, with Hubert Nicholson and David Martin, was published by Randall Swingler"s Fore Publications in 1944.

In 1949 he returned to Australia, settling in Brisbane. He then worked and published mostly on Australian songs and music, reciting ballads at arts festivals.

He died in Brisbane.

Achievements

• He was a founder in 1950 of the Realist Writers Group.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Op. 8, poems 1961-69
  • On my selection: Poems