William Baylebridge William Baylebridge i(A25716 works by) (birth name: Charles William Blocksidge) (a.k.a. William Blocksidge)
Also writes as: William Blocksidge ; W. B. ; Blox
Born: Established: 12 Dec 1883 East Brisbane, South Brisbane - East Brisbane area, Brisbane - South & South West, Brisbane, Queensland, ; Died: Ceased: 7 May 1942 Sydney, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

William Baylebridge was born in Brisbane, Queensland, and was educated at home, at a state school and at Brisbane Grammar School. Baylebridge aspired to be a writer and in 1908 went to England. In England he lived with his mother's half-sister, Grace Leven, and was supported by his maternal grandmother for a short period. He published many limited editions of his poetry and constantly revised and republished many of his poems. After reportedly serving in World War I, he returned to Australia and continued to write, supported by his investments on the Stock Exchange. In 1922 he published An Anzac Muster, a collection of stories told in the manner of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. In 1934 he established the Tallabila Press and published the remainder of his works under that name.

Baylebridge's poetry has received a mixed reception from critics, but most see him as philosophical and intellectual poet. Influenced by Neitzsche, he formulated a philosophy of vitalism which he attempted to apply to Australian nationalism. Recent critics have examined An Anzac Muster as one of the first attempts to mythologize Gallipoli.

Baylebridge died in 1942, leaving money to produce his collected works and establish an annual prize for poetry in memory of Grace Leven.

See also: Nancy Bonnin, 'Baylebridge, William (1883 - 1942)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, 1979, pp 218-219.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • Baylebridge is also reputed to have published the following works, but they have not been traced: "Sandal and Gum", "A Gleaner's Sheaf", "A Pillar of Salt", "The Loving Lad", and "The Voice of Desire".

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon This Vital Flesh Sydney : Tallabila Press , 1939 Z795686 1939 selected work poetry prose
1940 winner ASAL Awards ALS Gold Medal
Last amended 28 Aug 2013 11:40:49
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