C. J. Dennis
C. J. Dennis, born Clarence Michael James Dennis in Auburn, South Australia, to Irish parents, was a notable Australian poet and journalist whose works reflect the cultural landscape of early 20th-century Australia. After the death of his mother when he was fourteen, he was raised by his aunts and eventually pursued a career in journalism, becoming the editor of The Critic by his late twenties. Dennis is perhaps best known for his poetry collections, particularly "The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke," published in 1915, which became immensely popular for its portrayal of an everyday hero and resonated with Australians during World War I. His subsequent works, including "The Moods of Ginger Mick" and "Digger Smith," explored themes of friendship, love, and the experiences of soldiers. Dennis's literary contributions extended to children's literature with "A Book for Kids" and social commentary through works like "The Glugs of Gosh." He was also involved in left-wing journalism, emphasizing his progressive views. Dennis passed away in 1938, and his legacy endures as he is celebrated for capturing the essence of Australian values and experiences in his writings, earning him comparisons to renowned poets like Robert Burns.
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Subject Terms
C. J. Dennis
Australian poet and editor.
- Born: September 7, 1876
- Birthplace: Auburn, Australia
- Died: June 22, 1938
- Place of death:Melbourne, Australia
Biography
Clarence Michael James Dennis was born to Irish parents in Auburn, South Australia. His mother died when he was fourteen and he was raised by two aunts. During his youth, he became aware of the discrepancy in resources between land owners and those who worked the land. By seventeen Dennis left school and worked at the Adelaide newspaper The Critic. He became their editor by his late twenties, and in 1906, founded The Gadfly, a satirical paper slanted toward the Labor Party. By late 1907, Dennis left the struggling newspaper, and survived on freelance jobs. He compiled much of his published work, including Backblock Ballads and Other Versus, during this period.
In 1913, Dennis met J. G. Roberts and his wife, who gave him a stipend and a place to live. There he joined a circle of artists and writers known as the Sunnyside Circle, providing incredible inspiration. Dennis married Olive Biddy Herron in 1916. They moved to Sydney, and Dennis worked for left-wing newspapers, including The Australian Worker and The Call. Once World War I broke out, he worked as a public servant in the Naval Office, followed by a job with the Federal Attorney General’s department.
In 1915, Dennis published The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, a collection of larrikin verse about an everyday hero, Bill, and his adventures. The book was cherished by Australians at home and at war, serving as a piece of rural Australian culture.The Moods of Ginger Mick followed, introducing Mick, Bill’s best friend. Mick had grown up on the wrong side of the law and decided to join the army, developing strong relationships within his unit. Upon his battlefield death, Mick is regarded as a true gentleman, blurring any differences between class and rank. These two volumes were followed with Digger Smith, narrated by Bill, the Sentimental Bloke. Smith was another friend of Bill and Mick who went to war. Digger Smith is a love story first, and a commentary on the treatment of returning soldiers secondly. The final volume in the series, Rose of Spadgers, focuses on Rose, Mick’s grieving girlfriend, and her loss. In 1917 The Glugs of Gosh was published, which criticized the bureaucratic system, along with Australian society and its complacency. In 1921, Dennis wrote and illustrated A Book for Kids, consisting of silly verse.
In 1922, Dennis and his wife moved to Melbourne where Dennis wrote a daily column for the Herald. C. J. Dennis died June 22, 1938, from a heart condition brought on by asthma and bad health. After his death, Prime Minister Joseph Lyons called Dennis “the Robert Burns of Australia.” The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke was made into several films for the big screen and television, as well as stage productions, ballet, and musical theater. Dennis’s ability to hone in on and capture the heart of Australian values was his greatest achievement.
Author Works
Poetry:
Backblock Ballads and Other Verses, 1913 (republished as Backblock Ballads and Later Verses, 1918)
The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, 1915 (also known as The Sentimental Bloke)
Doreen and the Sentimental Bloke, 1917 (also known as Doreen)
The Moods of Ginger Mick, 1916
The Glugs of Gosh, 1917
Digger Smith, 1918
Jim of the Hills: A Story in Rhyme, 1919
A Book for Kids, 1921 (children’s literature)
Rose of Spadgers, 1924
The Singing Garden, 1935
Selected Verse of C. J. Dennis, 1950
Random Verse: A Collection of Verse and Prose by C. J. Dennis, 1952
The C. J. Dennis Collection: From His "Forgotten" Writings, 1987
Bibliography
Butterss, Philip. An Unsentimental Bloke: The Life and Work of C. J. Dennis. Wakefield Press, 2016. This biography was intended to reintroduce readers to Dennis, who Butterss suggests has become unjustly forgotten, especially in comparison to his characters, who have remained part of Australian culture.
"C. J. Dennis." Australian Poetry Library, Cultural Fund, the University of Sydney, Australian Government, www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/dennis-c-j-clarence-james. Accessed 19 Jun. 2017. Presents an overview of Dennis's life and career, including discussion of his major works.
Chisholm, Alec H. The Making of a Sentimental Bloke: A Sketch of the Remarkable Career of C. J. Dennis. Melbourne UP, 1964. An early overview of Dennis's life and works.
Chisholm, Alec H., and Barry Watts. The Life and Times of C. J. Dennis. Angus & Robertson, 1982. A biography of Dennis from the same publisher that popularized most of his best-known works.
Jenkin, P. B., ed. Images of Australia: C. J. Dennis as Man and Poet: Essays from the Australian National Review. Riverina/Murray Institute of Higher Education, 1987. This collection of essays explores Dennis's life and career from multiple angles, with a focus on his connection to Australian culture.
McLaren, Ian F. "Dennis, Clarence Michael James (1876–1938)." Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dennis-clarence-michael-james-5957/text10163. Accessed 19 Jun. 2017. Provides a fairly detaield biography of Dennis, including critical analysis of his major works and discussion of his legacy in Australia.