Brian Elliott (writer)

Brian Robinson Elliott AM FAHA (11 April 1910 – 29 August 1991)[1] was a writer and academic in Adelaide, South Australia, hailed as the first academic to regard Australian literature as a worthy field of study.[2]

Career

Elliott was born in Adelaide, the younger son of Arthur J. Elliott of Parkside, South Australia. He was educated at Victor Harbor and matriculated at Unley High School.[3] He received his BA in English and French at the University of Adelaide in 1931.[4] He was involved in amateur theatre as producer, with the Players' Guild[5] and WEA Little Theatre.[6]

Elliott taught English at two senior high schools[4] over six years, during which time his thesis was accepted for qualification as Master of Arts. He was appointed temporary assistant in English at the University of Western Australia in 1938.[7]

Elliott was appointed lecturer in English at the University of Adelaide in 1941.[4] He was appointed reader in Australian literature in 1961, a post he held until 1975.[4]

He is reputedly the first critic to suspect the Ern Malley papers of being a hoax[1][8] and was called as an expert witness in the trial.[9]

Mapped but Not Known: The Australian Landscape of the Imagination was compiled by P. Robin Eaden and F. H. "Tim" Mares presented to Elliott on 11 April 1985, marking his 75th birthday, published 1986.[8]

Honours and recognition

Elliott was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.[4] He was presented with the honorary award, Doctor of the University of Adelaide, following his retirement in 1975.[4] In the 1976 Australia Day Honours he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.[10]

Works

References
  1. Robert Hefner (1 September 1991). "LitBits". The Canberra Times. Vol. 65, no. 20, 595. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 25. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. Ralph Elliott (28 January 1989). "Review: Penguin New Literary History of Australia". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19, 471. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 5. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Locals". The Southern Argus. Vol. LXXV, no. 4, 240. South Australia. 5 December 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. Elliott, Ralph (1991). "Brian Robinson Elliott (1910–1991)" (PDF). Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  5. "From Rosalind's Notebook". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 22, no. 1, 136. South Australia. 3 March 1934. p. 15. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "The Amateur Theatre". The News. Vol. XXVIII, no. 4, 285. South Australia. 17 April 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "University Opens Today". The West Australian. Vol. 54, no. 16, 127. Western Australia. 7 March 1938. p. 19. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. W. H. Wilde; Joy W. Hooton; Barry Andrews (eds.). The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature (Second ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 019553381X.
  9. "Angry Penguins Prosecution". The Age. No. 27, 908. Victoria, Australia. 30 September 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Dr Brian Robinson Elliott". It's an Honour. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  11. "Reviews of New Books". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 90, no. 27850. South Australia. 10 January 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 12 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
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