1939 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1939.
Events
The Queenslander ceases publication after the last edition on February 22 1939. The magazine was first published on February 3 1866 by Thomas Blacket Stephens in Brisbane and published serialised novels, poems and short stories by many Australian writers.- The Southerly literary journal publishes its first issue.
Literary novels
- Erle Cox – Fool's Harvest
- Miles Franklin and Dymphna Cusack – Pioneers on Parade
- Michael Innes – Stop Press
- Will Lawson – In Ben Boyd's Day
- Jack Lindsay – Lost Birthright
- Myra Morris – Dark Tumult
- Henry Handel Richardson – The Young Cosima
- Alice Grant Rosman – William's Room
- Nevil Shute – What Happened to the Corbetts
- Kylie Tennant – Foveaux
- F. J. Thwaites – Fever
- Patrick White – ''Happy Valley''
Short stories
- Katharine Susannah Prichard
- * "The Flight"
- * "Painted Finches"
- Dal Stivens – "Solemn Mass"
Crime and mystery
- Arthur Gask
- * The Fall of a Dictator
- * The Vengeance of Larose
- E. V. Timms – Dark Interlude
- Arthur Upfield – ''The Mystery of Swordfish Reef''
Children's
- Mary Grant Bruce – Son of Billabong
- Connie Christie – The Adventures of Pinkishell
- Dorothy Wall – ''The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill''
Poetry
- Mary Gilmore – Battlefields
- A. D. Hope – "Australia"
- Hugh McCrae – Poems
- Furnley Maurice – "Whenever I Have..."
- Kenneth Slessor
- * "Five Bells"
- * Five Bells : XX Poems
- * "North Country"
- * "South Country"
- Brian Vrepont – "The Miracle"
Drama
Radio
- Sumner Locke Elliott – Crazy Family
- Trevor Heath – ''Spinney Under the Rain''
Theatre
- George Landen Dann – Caroline Chisholm
- Sumner Locke Elliott
- * The Cow Jumped Over the Moon
- * ''Interval''
Awards and honours
Literary
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| ALS Gold Medal | Xavier Herbert | Capricornia | Angus and Robertson |
Poetry
| Award | Author | Title |
| C.J. Dennis Memorial Prize | Brian Vrepont | "The Miracle'" |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth of births in 1939 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.- 4 January – J. S. Harry, poet
- 29 January – Germaine Greer, theorist, academic and journalist
- 19 February – Beatrice Faust, co-founder of Women's Electoral Lobby, journalist and author
- 25 February – Gerald Murnane, novelist
- 12 July – Phillip Adams, broadcaster and journalist
- 22 August – Peter Steele, poet
- 6 September – Barbara Hanrahan, writer
- 7 October – Clive James, poet, novelist and critic
- 9 October – John Pilger, journalist, writer and documentary filmmaker
- 13 October – Suzanne Edgar, poet, short story writer and historian
- 14 December – John Baxter, novelist and biographer
- 30 December – Glenda Adams, novelist
- Jas H. Duke, performance poet
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1939 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.- 3 May – Hilary Lofting, novelist, travel writer, journalist and editor
- 4 November — Amy Mack, writer, journalist and editor
- 19 December – Edward Sorenson, poet