Cirrus@Austlit

John Leonard read English at Oxford and worked in nature conservation in the United Kingdom. After his arrival in Australia, he completed a PhD at the University of Queensland on the geneology of the criticism of the lyric. He moved to Canberra, where he became a public servant. He has also been the poetry editor of Overland.

Apart from criticism and reviews, Leonard has published many poems and several poetry collections. His poetry uses traditional forms in the cause of radical politics.