Literary magazine editors used to be rather imperial in style, exercising a great deal of influence in what has always been a rather restricted field: literary culture. Clem Christesen and Stephen Murray-Smith projected real authority as they fought the cultural and political battles of the day.

The style of their magazines was quite different. Meanjin, formally associated with the University of Melbourne, inclined as much to academic analysis as it did to creative writing, interleaved with speculative pieces on Australian society and culture. It was also highly conscious of the international dimension, and regularly published work from major overseas writers.

Overland, on the other hand, while also emanating from the University of Melbourne – informally – had an entirely different project. It arose from a Communist front, and while steadily broadening its approach and appeal, always retained a sense of being a collective enterprise. Essentially inclusive, Stephen sought to unite elements across the social spectrum to help create a distinctive Australian culture, and expanded its infrastructure with some writings of his own.

We are delighted to welcome back Jim Davidson who will remind us of the reach and power of these legendary literary figures.

Jim Davidson has held academic appointments at the University of Melbourne, Victoria University, the Australian National University, and in South Africa and England. He edited Meanjin from 1974 to 1982. His books include a scholarly edition of Anthony Trollope’s South Africa and histories of tourism and postcards. But he is best-known for his prize-winning biographies, Lyrebird Rising: Louise Hanson-Dyer of Oiseau-Lyre and A Three-Cornered Life: The Historian WK Hancock. His double biography of Clem Christesen and Stephen Murray-Smith, Emperors in Lilliput, has just been published by Melbourne University Press.

When you book a ticket you will be sent an automatically-generated email confirming your purchase. For those attending via Zoom, we will send your Zoom log-in details 24 hours before the event. Please note that, as at all RHSV events, refreshments are served from 5:30pm until 6pm when the lecture starts. So the Zoom presentation will start at 6pm.

If you do not receive the email confirmation of your purchase please check your Spam or Junk Mail folder as these automatically generated emails sometimes fall foul of spam filters.