The Late Great: Marcus Clarke
Marcus Clark
Monash University’s Dr Tony Moore will host a panel discussion on the life and times of Marcus Clarke (1846-1881), one of Australia’s most influential writers and great colonial characters who died 130 years ago.
Having been awarded a 2011 State Library of Victoria Creative Fellowship, Dr Moore is researching and writing a documentary script on the life of Marcus Clarke titled Marcus Clarke: An Unnatural Life. Film Victoria have recently announced development investment in the documentary to support the creation of a project proposal and initial treatment.
Marcus Clarke came to the colony of Victoria from London in 1863, and died just 18 years later, at the age of 35. In that short time, he made an extraordinary contribution to the social and cultural evolution of the rapidly growing city of Melbourne. He wrote many of his major works – including the internationally popular convict saga For the Term of His Natural Life – in his 20s.
Dr Moore, Director of the National Centre for Australian Studies said Clarke was at the time as much a Melbourne iconoclast as he is now an icon of Australian literature.
“With an ironic self-deprecating wit, Clarke ate, drank and scandalised his way about Melbourne in the 1860s and 70s, setting up a string of underground literary clubs, titillating respectable society and keeping one step ahead of the creditors. Along the way he invented a new Australian character to challenge the bushman - the urban bohemian writer,” Dr Moore said.
Clarke didn’t spend all his time in the city; he worked as a jackaroo in the Wimmera in his early Victorian days and was struck by the bush and the outback, wholly different to anything he’d experienced in England.
“Clarke imbibed the alien country, which he would famously describe as having a 'melancholy landscape'. Steeped in the Gothic, Clarke found the bush to be a ‘funereal’, primeval and humbling place,” Dr Moore said.
‘The Late Great: Marcus Clarke’ will reflect on the urban bohemian writer in all his glory, the historical impulses behind For the Term of His Natural Life, as well as Marcus Clarke’s short life. Other speakers include writer Robyn Annear and the Rare Printed Collections Manager at the State Library of Victoria, Des Cowley. Dr Moore will have an article about Clarke’s legacy in the Age’s Life and Style section this Saturday, 13 August.
‘The Late Great: Marcus Clarke discussion will be held at The Wheeler Centre on Tuesday 16 August, 6.15-7.15pm. This is a free event and bookings are recommended. To book, go to wheelercentre.com.