NLA image of person
Henrietta Drake-Brockman Henrietta Drake-Brockman i(A31073 works by) (birth name: Henrietta Jull) (a.k.a. Henrietta Frances York Drake-Brockman; Mrs Geoffrey Drake-Brockman; H. Drake-Brockman)
Also writes as: Henry Drake
Born: Established: 27 Jul 1901 Perth, Western Australia, ; Died: Ceased: 8 Mar 1968 Perth, Western Australia,
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

Henrietta Drake-Brockman spent many years in the Western Australian outback with her husband, Geoffrey Drake-Brockman. She played a major role in the WA literary scene and was a Foundation Member (1938), and later President of the WA Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers. She served as a long-term committee member of Westerly magazine.

A prolific author of novels, short stories and drama, Drake-Brockman also edited several collections of fiction, and wrote in the field of literary criticism.

Her fiction had a historical focus, and explored such subjects as the pearling industry in Broome, the struggles of colonial development, the effects of World War II on Australian society, the nature of the Australian landscape and the challenges of living in the outback

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • A sound recording of Henrietta Drake-Brockman talking to her grand daughter (1962) is held at ANL.
  • See also the full Australian Dictionary of Biography Online entry for Henrietta Frances Drake-Brockman, (1901-1968).
  • The December 1933 issue of The Home contains a brief section noting that, 'A charming visitor to Sydney during November was Mrs Henrietta Drake-Brockman (Henry Drake), of Peppermint Grove, Perth, the author of several serials, short stories and plays, many of which have their setting in the far north-west, which she has visited with her husband...Two plays by Henry Drake, recently performed at the Repertory and Playbox Theatres in Perth, were acclaimed by critics.' (section includes biographical details; content appears in the Sydney 'Personal and Social' column)

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Australian Legendary Tales Sydney : Angus and Robertson , 1953 Z917812 1953 selected work prose essay Indigenous story
1954 winner CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year Award
Life Saver 1939 single work short story
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 1 March vol. 60 no. 3081 1939; (p. 4-5,7) Sydney or the Bush 1948; (p. 77-90)
1939 winner The Bulletin Short Story Competition
y separately published work icon Men Without Wives : A North Australian Play 1938 (Manuscript version)x401173 Z858721 1938 single work drama
— Appears in: Men Without Wives and Other Plays 1955; (p. 2-72)
1938 Winner New South Wales Sesquicentenary Celebration Prize for a Play
Last amended 23 Nov 2011 16:18:00
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