Leslie Holdsworth Allen
Encyclopedia
Leslie Holdsworth Allen (21 June 1879 – 5 January 1964) was an Australian academic and poet. He was Professor of English
at the Royal Military College, Duntroon
, the senior lecturer of English and Latin
at Canberra University College
and chairman of the Literature Censorship Board.
, the second son of William Allen
, a Congregational minister and the older brother of Sir Carleton Allen
. He was eleven when his family moved to Sydney
where he attended Newington College
(1894-1899). He later attended the University of Sydney
and the University of Leipzig
.
. After his marriage in 1915 to Dora Bavin (sister of Sir Thomas Bavin, Lancelot Bavin
and Major Cyril Bavin OBE) he became professor of English at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. During his tenue at Duntroon he produced plays for the Canberra
Society of Arts and Literature and wrote poetry and children's verse. In 1931, he became the sole lecturer in English and classics at Canberra University College (now the Australian National University
).
) was tubercular and she died in 1932 predeceased by their only son. On his death in Moruya, New South Wales
, he was survived by his only daughter.
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
at the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
, the senior lecturer of English and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
at Canberra University College
Canberra University College
Canberra University College was a tertiary education institution established in Canberra by the Australian government and the University of Melbourne in 1930...
and chairman of the Literature Censorship Board.
Early life
Allen was born in Maryborough, VictoriaMaryborough, Victoria
-Education:Maryborough has three schools:*Highview Christian Community College*Maryborough Education Centre Years Prep–12*St Augustine's Primary School Grades Prep–6-Music:...
, the second son of William Allen
William Allen (Australian clergyman)
Rev. William Allen , English-born, Australian Congregational clergyman.Allen was born in Betchworth, Surrey, and was taken to Victoria in 1852. He was educated at the Scotch and Congregational colleges in Melbourne, and matriculated at the Melbourne University in 1869...
, a Congregational minister and the older brother of Sir Carleton Allen
Carleton Allen
Sir Carleton Kemp Allen MC KC was an Australian-born professor and Warden of Rhodes House, University of Oxford.-Early life and student career:...
. He was eleven when his family moved to 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...
where he attended Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1894-1899). He later attended the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
.
Academic career
In 1911, Allen was appointed as a senior lecturer in classics and English at Sydney Teachers CollegeSydney Teachers College
The Sydney Teachers College was a tertiary education institution that trained school teachers in Sydney, Australia. It existed from 1906 until 1981, when it became a part of the Sydney Institute of Education which in turn joined the Faculty of Education at the University of Sydney in...
. After his marriage in 1915 to Dora Bavin (sister of Sir Thomas Bavin, Lancelot Bavin
Lancelot Bavin
Lancelot Bavin was a New Zealand-born Australian educator who was the Founder and Headmaster of Chatswood Preparatory School and Headmaster and Co-Headmaster of Mowbray House School. He was the preparatory school headmaster of lawyer and company director Sir Norman Cowper CBE, poet Kenneth...
and Major Cyril Bavin OBE) he became professor of English at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. During his tenue at Duntroon he produced plays for the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
Society of Arts and Literature and wrote poetry and children's verse. In 1931, he became the sole lecturer in English and classics at Canberra University College (now the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
).
Censorship
Allen was appointed in 1933 as a member of the Commonwealth Book Censorship Advisory Committee. From 1937 he was chairman the Literature Censorship Board from 1937.Family life
His wife Dora (sister of Thomas Bavin and Lancelot BavinLancelot Bavin
Lancelot Bavin was a New Zealand-born Australian educator who was the Founder and Headmaster of Chatswood Preparatory School and Headmaster and Co-Headmaster of Mowbray House School. He was the preparatory school headmaster of lawyer and company director Sir Norman Cowper CBE, poet Kenneth...
) was tubercular and she died in 1932 predeceased by their only son. On his death in Moruya, New South Wales
Moruya, New South Wales
Moruya is a small regional centre in New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Moruya River, approximately 300 kilometers south of Sydney. At the 2006 census, Moruya had a population of 10,278 people. The town relies predominantly on agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism...
, he was survived by his only daughter.
Honours
The Haydon-Allen Lecture Theatre is in part a memorial to his work at the Australian National University.Publications
- Gods and Wood-Things (1913)
- Phaedra: and Other Poems (1921)
- Araby: and Other Poems (1924)
- Patria (1941)