Brinsmead, Hesba Fay (1922–2003)
Brinsmead, Hesba Fay (1922–2003)
Australian novelist. Name variations: Pixie Brinsmead. Born Hesba Fay Hungerford, 1922, in the Blue Mountains settlement of Berambing, Australia; died Nov 2003, in Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia; m. Reg Brinsmead (div.); children: Ken and Bernie.
One of Australia's most important writers for children and young adults, wrote on a wide variety of subjects; came to prominence with 1st book, Pastures of the Blue Crane (1964), which won the Children's Book of the Year award; followed this with her landmark Longtime Passing (1971), the 1st of her semi-autobiographical trilogy; an environmentalist whose works often reflect fascination with Australian wilderness, also published the 1st of her "Tasmanian" books with the novel Season of the Briar (1965), followed by Echo in the Wilderness (1972) and I Will Not Say the Day is Done (1983); her The Ballad of Benny Perhaps (1977) is "increasingly recognized," wrote the Sydney Morning Herald, "as one of the lost masterpieces of Australian literature." Received Mary Gilmore Award (1965) and Pastures of the Blue Crane was made into tv miniseries.
See also Michael Pollak and Margaret MacNabb, Days Never Done: The Life and Work of Hesba Fay Brinsmead (2002).