Established 2014 · London
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Rare Books, Signed First Editions & Letters
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Biography
Australian

Anne Elder

1918 — 1976

Australian poet and former ballet dancer whose only poetry collection, Crazy Woman and Other Poems (1976), was published shortly before her death and won the Patrick White Literary Award. The Anne Elder Award, one of Australia's most important poetry prizes for debut collections, was established in her memory. Her work is a key part of mid-century Australian poetry.

Past sales0
PeriodModernist
NationalityAustralian
1. Biography

A short life of the author

Anne Elder (1918–1976) was an Australian poet who trained as a ballet dancer with the Borovansky Ballet before turning to poetry later in life. Her sole collection, Crazy Woman and Other Poems (1976), was published near the end of her life and won the Patrick White Literary Award.

The Anne Elder Award, established in her memory and administered by the Fellowship of Australian Writers, is given annually for a first book of poetry — making Elder’s name familiar to successive generations of Australian poets even though her own published output was small.

Collecting Elder

Crazy Woman and Other Poems (1976) was published in a modest printing and is scarce. It is collected by specialists in Australian poetry. The book’s importance lies more in its posthumous legacy — the prize it inspired — than in its market value.