William Hatfield (writer)

William Hatfield (1892–1969) was the pen name of Ernest Chapman, an English-born writer best known for his work in Australia.

Biography

He emigrated to Australia in 1912 and did a variety of jobs before turning to writing with Sheepmates in 1931.[1] He wrote fiction for adults and children, travel stories, autobiography, short stories (particularly for The Australian Journal and Australiana). Hatfield served in the Australian army during World War II.[2]

He was, in September 1949, a charter member of the Australian Peace Council.[3]

Hatfield died on 2 February 1969 at Concord, New South Wales.[1]

Film work

Sheepmates was meant to be filmed in 1934 by F. W. Thring, and Hatfield helped scout locations, but the project was abandoned during shooting. Hatfield promised Thring to shoot some footage of an aboriginal corroboree for a proposed screen version of Collits' Inn during a cross-country trip, but the film did not eventuate.[4] Thring also bought the rights to Ginger Murdoch as a vehicle for George Wallace but died before he got a chance to make it.[5]

Cinesound Productions announced a film version of Hatfield's novel Big Timber but instead chose to shoot an original script, Tall Timbers (1937).[6]

Selected writings
  • Sheepmates (1931)
  • Ginger Murdoch (1932)
  • Christmastown (1932)
  • Desert Saga (1933)
  • River Crossing (1934)
  • Black Waterlily (1935)[7]
  • Australia Through the Windscreen (1936)
  • Big Timber (1936)
  • I Find Australia (1937)
  • Buffalo Jim (1938)
  • Barrier Reef Days (1948)
  • Wild Dog Frontier (1951)

References
  1. Serle, Geoffrey, "Hatfield, William (1892–1969)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 13 March 2022
  2. War service details
  3. "Australian Peace Council Launched". Tribune. No. 551. New South Wales, Australia. 7 September 1949. p. 5. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "5000 MILES ACROSS AUSTRALIA". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 24 May 1934. p. 12. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  5. "ENGLISH PLAYS". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 12 January 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  6. 'ROUND-AUSTRALIA RACE. Author Seeks British Car.' The West Australian (Perth) Monday 16 November 1936 p 16
  7. "HALF-CASTE PROBLEM". Portland Guardian. Vic.: National Library of Australia. 8 April 1935. p. 3 Edition: EVENING. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.