Charmian Clift
Encyclopedia
Charmian Clift was an Australian writer and essayist during the mid 20th century. She was the second wife and literary collaborator of George Johnston
.
in 1923. She married George Johnston in 1947. They had three children, the eldest of whom was the poet Martin Johnston
. After Clift and Johnston's collaboration High Valley (1949) won them recognition as writers, they left Australia with their young family, working in London before relocating to the Greek island of Hydra to try living by the pen.
Johnston returned to Australia to receive the accolades of his Miles Franklin Award
Winner My Brother Jack
. Clift moved back to Sydney with their children in 1964, after which her novels Mermaid Singing, Peel Me a Lotus, and Honour's Mimic became successes.
She was also well-known for her essays in Sydney
and Melbourne
newspapers, which included "Images in Aspic" and "The World of Charmian Clift". In the meantime, Clift and Johnston's marriage was disintegrating under the pressures of their drinking habits and the problems their children had settling into life in Sydney.
On 8 July 1969, the eve of the publication of Johnston's Clean Straw for Nothing
, Clift committed suicide by taking an overdose of barbiturate
s in Mosman
, a Sydney suburb. Her ashes were later scattered in the rose garden of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium in Sydney.
George Johnston (novelist)
George Johnston OBE was an Australian journalist, war correspondent and novelist, best known for My Brother Jack. His second wife and literary collaborator was Charmian Clift.-Life:...
.
Biography
Clift was born in Kiama, New South WalesKiama, New South Wales
-Transport:The town is served by Kiama Station on the South Coast Line. It is served by road in the form of the Princes Highway and the Kiama Bypass.-Attractions:...
in 1923. She married George Johnston in 1947. They had three children, the eldest of whom was the poet Martin Johnston
Martin Johnston
Martin Johnston was an Australian poet and novelist.Martin Johnston was born in Sydney in November 1947, son of the writers George Johnston and Charmian Clift. His early childhood was spent in London and Sydney. In 1954 the family moved to Greece...
. After Clift and Johnston's collaboration High Valley (1949) won them recognition as writers, they left Australia with their young family, working in London before relocating to the Greek island of Hydra to try living by the pen.
Johnston returned to Australia to receive the accolades of his Miles Franklin Award
Miles Franklin Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize for the best Australian ‘published novel or play portraying Australian life in any of its phases’. The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin , who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career ...
Winner My Brother Jack
My Brother Jack
My Brother Jack is a classic Australian novel by writer George Johnston. It is part of a trilogy centring on the character of David Meredith...
. Clift moved back to Sydney with their children in 1964, after which her novels Mermaid Singing, Peel Me a Lotus, and Honour's Mimic became successes.
She was also well-known for her essays in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
newspapers, which included "Images in Aspic" and "The World of Charmian Clift". In the meantime, Clift and Johnston's marriage was disintegrating under the pressures of their drinking habits and the problems their children had settling into life in Sydney.
On 8 July 1969, the eve of the publication of Johnston's Clean Straw for Nothing
Clean Straw for Nothing
Clean Straw for Nothing is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author George Johnston. This novel is a sequel to My Brother Jack....
, Clift committed suicide by taking an overdose of barbiturate
Barbiturate
Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and can therefore produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics, as hypnotics, and as anticonvulsants...
s in Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
, a Sydney suburb. Her ashes were later scattered in the rose garden of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium in Sydney.
Novels
- High Valley, (with George JohnstonGeorge Johnston (novelist)George Johnston OBE was an Australian journalist, war correspondent and novelist, best known for My Brother Jack. His second wife and literary collaborator was Charmian Clift.-Life:...
) 1949 - The Big Chariot, (with Johnston) 1953
- The Sponge Divers, (with Johnston) 1955
- Walk to the Paradise Gardens, 1960
- Honour's Mimic, 1964
Short stories and collections
- Strong Man from Piraeus and Other Stories, (with Johnston) 1983
Non-fiction
- Images in Aspic, Selected Essays, Sydney, 1965
- The World of Charmain Clift, Sydney, 1970
- Trouble in Lotus Land, Sydney, 1990
- Being Alone with Oneself, Sydney, 1991
- Charmian Clift: Selected Essays, 2001