One of the worlds greatest writers

Morris West (1916-1999)

Hi everyone. I thought most of you keen readers would enjoy this item. I am going to pick some of my best love writers and show case them to you. The first is the great Australian writer Morris West. My most loved books of his are.

The Shoes of the Fisherman

and

The Devil's Advocate

 

Brief Biography

Morris West was born in St Kilda, Melbourne in 1916. He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1937 and took up work as a teacher in New South Wales and Tasmania. During this period he had been a member of the Christian Brothers but left the order after 12 years. During World War II he worked as a cipher clerk in Darwin and for a time was private secretary to W.M. Hughes.
Around the time of the publication of his first novel in 1945 he worked in Melbourne radio but left after two years to manage Australian Radio Productions. In 1955 West left Australia to further his career as a writer. During his time away from Australia he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA. He returned to Australia in 1980.
Morris West was at various times, chairman of the National Book Council and the National Library Council.
Morris West died while working at his desk on 9th October 1999.

Bibliography:

Fiction
Moon in My Pocket 1945 (published under the pseudonym "Julian Morris")
Gallows on the Sand 1956
Kunda 1956
Children of the Sun 1957
The Big Story 1957
The Second Victory 1958
McCreary Moves In 1958 (published under the pseudonym "Michael East")
Backlash 1958
The Devil's Advocate 1959
The Naked Country 1960 (published under the pseudonym "Michael East")
Daughter of Silence 1961
The Shoes of the Fisherman 1963
The Ambassador 1965 (aka Sutnis)
The Tower of Babel 1968
Summer of the red Wolf 1971
The Salamander 1973
Harlequin 1974
The Navigator 1976
Proteus 1979
The Clowns of God 1981
The World is Made of Glass 1983
Cassidy 1986
Masterclass 1988
Lazarus 1990
The Ringmaster 1991
The Lovers 1993
Vanishing Point 1996
Emminence 1998


Drama
The Mask of Marius Melville ?1945
The Prince of Peace ?
Trumpets in the Dawn ?
Genesis in Juddsville ?
The Illusionists 1955
The Devil's Advocate 1961
Daughter of Silence 1962
The Heretic 1969
The World is Made of Glass 1982


Non-Fiction
A View from the Ridge: The testimony of a pilgrim 1996 (biography)
Images and Inscriptions 1997


Film Adaptations
The Shoes of the Fisherman was filmed in 1968 - directed by Michael Anderson, from a screenplay by James Kennaway and John Patrick (II), and featured Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier, David Janssen, Leo McKern and John Geilgud - from the novel of the same name
The Devil's Advocate was filmed in 1978 - directed by Guy Green from a screenplay by Morris West, and featured John Mills - from the novel of the same name
The Naked Country was filmed in 1984 - directed by Tim Burstall, from a screenplay by Tim Burstall and Ross Dimsey, and featured Simon Chilvers and Rebecca Gilling
The Second Victory was filmed in 1986 - directed by Gerald Thomas, from a screenplay by Morris West, and featured Mario Adorf and Anthony Andrews
Cassidy was filmed in 1989 - directed by Carl Schultz, from a screenplay by Joanna Murray-Smith and Morris West, and featured Bill Hunter, Ivor Kants and Martin Shaw