Kenneth Slessor Introduction

Slessor, Kenneth 1901–1971

Slessor was an Australian poet, journalist, and critic. His poetry is imaginative and lyrical, frequently showing evidence of his Australian heritage in its themes and imagery. Time, memory, and the sea are frequent themes in these poems, though often overcast with a sense of despair and melancholy. Critics have cited Wilfred Owen as an important influence on Slessor's style. Five Bells is generally considered his most important work. (See also Contemporary Authors, obituary, Vols. 89-92.)