A. W. Jose studied at Oxford University and emigrated to Australia for health reasons at the age of 19. After working briefly as a tutor to a Hobart family, he became Assistant Master at All Saints College, Bathurst, where he worked for nine years. In 1893 he became Acting Professor of Modern Literature at Sydney University. After travelling in South Africa, India and England for five years, Jose returned to Australia and became a correspondent for the London Times, from 1904-1915. Jose also served in the Royal Australian Navy as a captain, and wrote extensively about the war and the Navy.
In addition to writing poetry, Jose worked as a freelance editor and reader for Angus and Robertson, and edited major collections of the works of Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. He was also an historian and essayist. In 1899, he published A Short History of Australasia, which was subsequently expanded and reissued 15 times by 1919, under the new title History of Australasia. Jose wrote additional works about historical aspects of Australia and was also editor-in-chief of the first edition of the Australian Encyclopaedia, produced in 1925. Jose held the postion of Australian correspondent for The Times from 1903-1915 .
In 1899 Jose was the London representative for The Australasian Literary Agency 'for the especial service of Australian writers' (The Australian Magazine, 18 September, 1899, p.vi). A. G. Stephens (q.v.) was the Sydney representative.
From 1927-1932 Jose travelled through Europe, reviewing literature for a number of publications, including the Times Literary Supplement. He returned to Australia once more in 1933, where he continued to publish until his death the following year.
