The Comic and Tragicomic Poetry of Francis Webb

Michelle chats with Dr Toby Davidson, editor of Francis Webb's Collected Poems, about the comic element in his poetry of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Webb (1925 - 73) is an enigma, a postwar prodigy respected by some of the loftiest names in Australian poetry - Judith Wright, Gwen Harwood, Les Murray, Robert Adamson - but largely unknown to the general public. 2025 marks 100 years since the poet's birth, and the Francis Webb Centenary will be marked with essays, podcasts and tribute readings to shine a fresh light on this North Sydney genius who astonished his contemporaries with his white-hot talent and fierce questioning of social norms, both of which are immediately evident in his character sketches, Shakespearean clowns and spiky satirical ripostes. 

 

Francis Webb Centenary homepage (hosted by UWA Publishing):

https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/blogs/marginalia/centenary-of-major-australian-poet-francis-webb?srsltid=AfmBOooROr-1QfHD21zlUOLgdi1IveEr8AHUiZBW-VA5gVwNxG3SwIU9

 

Ian Dickson's 2022 recital of 'A Drum for Ben Boyd' from the Australian Book Review podcast, introduced by ABR poetry editor John Hawke:

https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/podcast/760-the-abr-podcast/8039-on-the-australian-poet-francis-webb-the-abr-podcast-66