Cirrus@Austlit

Rodney Hall was born in 1935 in Warwickshire, England, emigrating to Australia soon after World War II. In 1971 he graduated from the University of Queensland and worked at a variety of jobs related to the arts. His first volume of poetry was published in 1962. Since that time he has written ten volumes of poetry and more than ten novels, attracting a number of awards and honours, including an AM. He has edited a number of publications and acted as poetry adviser to Angus & Robertson between 1972-75. Hall has been actively involved in Aboriginal affairs and was the chairperson of the Australia Council between 1990-94.

Hall's poetry often exhibits the collective form or "progression" of poems where a series of poems cohere to form a unified whole while ably standing alone separately. His poetry is admired for its wit, its economy, and the productive exploration of myth and legend. His fiction is often experimental, and his concerns have mostly explored the culturally produced meanings of Australia, seen most vividly in the award winning Yandilli Trilogy.

Hall has lived on the far south coast of New South Wales since the early 1970s. His novel, The Day We had Hitler Home, was short-listed for the 2001 Miles Franklin Award, showing the continuing strength of his literary reputation.

In 2003 Hall was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature by the University of Queensland in recognition of his distinguished career and his contribution to Australian literature.