Hal Porter

Harold Edward (Hal) Porter (16 February 1911 – 29 September 1984) was an Australian poetry|Australian poet]], novelist, playwright, and short story writer.

Life
Porter was born in Albert Park, Victoria, grew up in Bairnsdale, Victoria and worked as a journalist, teacher and librarian. A car accident just before the outbreak of war prevented him from serving in World War II. His first stories were published in 1942 and by the 1960s he was writing full time. His 1963 memoir, The Watcher on the Cast Iron Balcony, is regarded as an Australian masterpiece. His other works were less successful. Shockingly, his friend and biographer Mary Lord revealed in her book Hal Porter: Man of Many Parts that Porter had had sexual relations with Lord's then ten-year-old son; despite this, she chose to remain friends with him. Other critics, notably Noel Rowe, have argued that a close reading of his various works reveals a strong interest in paedophilia.

Novels

 * A Handful of Pennies (1958)
 * The Tilted Cross (1961)
 * The Right Thing (1971)

Short stories

 * A Bachelor's Children (1962)
 * Short Stories (1942)
 * The Cats of Venice (1965)
 * The Actors: An image of the new Japan (1968)
 * Mr. Butterfry and Other Tales of New Japan (1970)
 * Selected Stories (1971)
 * Fredo Fuss Love Life (1974)
 * The Portable Hal Porter (1978)
 * The Clairvoyant Goat (1981)

Poetry

 * The Hexagon (1956)
 * Elijah's Ravens (1968)
 * In an Australian Graveyard (1974)

Memoirs

 * The Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony (1963)
 * The Paper Chase (1966)
 * Criss-Cross (1973)
 * The Extra (1975)

Drama

 * The Tower (1963)
 * The Professor (1966)
 * Eden House (1969)