Athol Dickson was born in Olinda, Victoria, Australia, in 1906. He was educated at the University of Melbourne and graduated with a B.Sc. (1927) and Ph.D (1933). A decade later he married Edith, who had been his student; they were to have five children
His first book of poems appeared in 1928; over the next 20 years his output was prolific. But it was not until he won the Australian National Academy of Letters Award for Poetry (1967) that he gained international recognition. Dickson wrote 14 novels, including The Best of All Possible Worlds (1960), which won him the Miles Franklin Award; The Magic of the Kites (1973); The Night Will Come Again (1982); and The Last Time We Saw One Another (1994).
His plays include A Village Affair (1952), The Country That Remembers Itself (1969), and First Love (1992).
Come on people! Somebody disagree with me! How can we learn anything if no one will disagree?" Rabbi SternAthol Dickson
Nothing stood between Sheryl's heart and skin. She was whole in her sorrow, perfectly connected inside and out, soul and body united, swaying with complete abandon to a dirge that only she could hear.Athol Dickson
