- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: AWE4321
Cusack, Dymphna
- AM
- Born 21 September 1902, Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia
- Died 19 October 1981, Manly Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Occupation Author, Cultural Commentator, Political activist, social activist, Teacher
Summary
Dymphna Cusack was one of Australia’s most prolific and translated writers. Educated at St Ursula’s College, Armidale she won an Exhibition and Teaching Scholarship to the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education. While at the University of Sydney, she developed life-long friendships with fellow authors Florence James and Christina Stead, and lawyer Marie Byles. After graduating she worked as a teacher until her early retirement in 1944 due to ill-health.
Cusack’s literary career took off in 1935 when her first novel, Jungfrau, was published to critical acclaim. A further eleven novels, seven plays, three travel books, two children’s books and one non-fiction book followed. Two of her novels were collaborations: Pioneers on Parade (1939) with Miles Franklin; and Come In Spinner (1951) with Florence James.
Cusack’s books were translated into over 30 languages worldwide, making her one of Australia’s most translated authors. Her anti-bomb play, Pacific Paradise (1955), written in response to the United State’s atomic tests on Bikini Atoll, sealed her reputation across Asia, Eastern Europe and the Pacific.
During the 1950s and 1960s Cusack spent long periods overseas with her partner (later husband) Norman Randolph Freehill, a journalist and founding member of the Community Party of Australia. After returning to Australia in 1962 she became associated with Faith and Hans Bandler, leaders of the Aboriginal rights movements.
In 1963 Cusack was a foundation member of the Australian Society of Authors. In 1975 she was named Woman of the Year by the Union of Australian Women. In 1976 she refused the Order of the British Empire due to her republican ideals, but in 1981, soon before her death, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to Australian literature.
Details
The following list represents some of Cusacks more important publications:
Novels
Jungfrau (1936)
Pioneers on Parade (1939), with Miles Franklin
Come In Spinner (1951), with Florence James
Say No to Death (1951)
Southern Steel (1953)
The Sun in Exile (1955)
Heat Wave in Berlin (1961)
Picnic Races (1962)
Black Lightning (1964)
The Sun is Not Enough (1967)
The Half-Burnt Tree (1969)
A Bough in Hell (1971)
Plays
Shallow Cups (1934)
Red Sky at Morning (1942)
Morning Sacrifice (1943)
Three Australian Three Act Plays (1950), comprising Comets Soon Pass, Shoulder the Sky, and Morning Sacrifice
The Golden Girls (1955)
Pacific Paradise (1963)
Travel books
Chinese Women Speak (1958)
Holidays Among the Russians (1964)
Illyria Reborn (1966)
Children’s stories
Kanga-Bee and Kanga-bo (1945)
Four Winds and a Family (1947), with Florence James
Non-Fiction
Caddie, the Story of a Barmaid (1953), edited and introduced only
Biography
Norman Freehill with Dymphna Cusack, Dymphna Cusack, T. Nelson, West Melbourne (Vic.), 1975
Dymphna Cusack, A window in the dark, National Library of Australia, Canberra, 1991, introduced and edited by Debra Adelaide
Events
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1963
Helped establish the Australian Society of Austhors
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1975
Named Woman of the Year by the Union of Australian Women
-
1976
Refused to accept the Order of the British Empire due to her republican ideals
-
1981
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to Australian literature
Archival resources
- Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection
- National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
- National Archives of Australia, National Office, Canberra
- National Archives of Australia, Sydney Office
Published resources
- Edited Book
-
Book
- Dymphna Cusack, Freehill, Norman, 1975
- A window in the dark, introduced and edited by Debra Adelaide, Cusack, Dymphna, 1991
- Caddie, a Sydney barmaid : an autobiography / written by herself ; with an introduction on by Dymphna Cusack, Caddie, 1953
- Come in Spinner, Cusack, Dymphna and James, Florence, 1951
- Heatwave in Berlin, Cusack, Dymphna, 1961
- Book Section
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Resource Section
- Dymphna Cusack (1902-81), Middlemiss, Perry, 2006, http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/cusackd/cusackd.html
- Cusack, Ellen Dymphna (Nell) (1902 - 1981), North, Marilla, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A170280b.htm
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Resource
- Trove: Cusack, Dymphna (-1981), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-478194