Les Murray
Leslie Allan Murray (born 17 October 1938) is an Australian poet and critic. He
was born in Nabiac on the North Coast of New South Wales, and continues to live
in the nearby town of Bunyah.
Murray attended primary and early high school in Nabiac, then attended Taree
High School. In 1957 he commenced study at the University of Sydney, reading
modern languages, and during this period became a professional translator. While
at university he also became a Roman Catholic. He served in the Royal Australian
Naval Reserve. In 1969 he took up writing full-time, after spending some time
travelling and completing his degree course.
Murray has edited the magazine Poetry Australia, and currently serves as
literary editor of Quadrant.
1984 - Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry for The People's Other World
1990 - Grace Leven Prize for Poetry for Dog Fox Field
1993 - Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry for Translations from the Natural
World
1995 - Petrarch Prize, Germany (Petrarca Preis)
1996 - T. S. Eliot Prize for Subhuman Redneck Poems
1998 - Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry
2001 - shortlisted for the International Griffin Poetry Prize for Learning
Human
2002 - shortlisted for the International Griffin Poetry Prize for Conscious &
Verbal
2005 - Premio Mondello, Italy for Fredy Neptune