John Harwood

John Harwood, born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1946, is an Australian writer recognized for his poetry, literary criticism, and novels. He received his education at the University of Tasmania and Cambridge University before embarking on an academic career at Flinders University in South Australia.

In 1997, Harwood transitioned to full-time writing. While his critical work on poetry is notable, his debut novel, The Ghost Writer, achieved significant recognition, receiving commendations in Australian literary awards and winning a major international horror award. His father was the poet Gwen Harwood.

Harwood's literary output includes several novels such as The Ghost Writer (2004), The Seance (2008), and The Asylum (2013). He has also authored critical works on literature, including "Olivia Shakespear and W.B. Yeats: after long silence" (1989) and "Eliot to Derrida: the poverty of interpretation" (1995).

John Harwood's career spans poetry, literary criticism, and novel writing. After pursuing higher education at the University of Tasmania and Cambridge University, he held an academic position at Flinders University. He dedicated himself to full-time writing in 1997. While he has a background in poetry and literary analysis, his foray into fiction, particularly his first novel "The Ghost Writer," garnered substantial attention. This novel was not only acknowledged in Australian literary award circles but also secured a significant international horror award, marking his impact in the genre. His father, Gwen Harwood, was also a poet.

John Harwood's novel "The Ghost Writer" (2004) received multiple accolades, including a longlisting for the Miles Franklin Award in 2005, a commendation in the Best First Book section for the South East Asia and South Pacific Region of the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 2005, and the International Horror Guild Award for Best First Novel in 2005. Additionally, "The Ghost Writer" earned the Dracula Society's Children of the Night Award in 2004. His novel "The Seance" (2008) was honored with the Aurealis Award for Best Horror Novel in 2008. Other novels by Harwood include "The Asylum" (2013).

Beyond his fiction, John Harwood has made contributions to literary criticism. His academic background and focus on poetry are reflected in his critical works. He authored "Olivia Shakespear and W.B. Yeats: after long silence," published in 1989, and "Eliot to Derrida: the poverty of interpretation," released in 1995. These works suggest an engagement with literary theory and the analysis of poetic traditions and interpretation, demonstrating a scholarly depth to his engagement with literature.