Vincent Buckley, who once described himself as “an Irish poet born in Australia”, was throughout his career involved in issues of nationality and identity, peace and violence, obedience and rebellion. These issues led him to a life of religious and political controversy and activism, which find direct expression and a kind of resolution in his poetry. Through seven collections published in his lifetime, and two posthumously, he established himself as one of Australia’s leading poets in a tradition that was equally national and Catholic. In his books of criticism, as well as in numerous essays in journals, he grounded the discussion of national and moral issues on close textual analysis of both Australian and English authors. Two prose memoirs published in the last decade of his life…
2344 words
Citation: McLaren, John. "Vincent Thomas Buckley". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 April 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12995, accessed 25 November 2024.]