John Forbes
John Forbes (1 September 1950 – 23 January 1998) was an Australian poet. Forbes was born in Melbourne, but during his childhood his family lived in northern Queensland, Malaya and New Guinea. He went to the University of Sydney, and his circle of friends included the poets Robert Adamson, Martin Johnston, and John Tranter.
Also recorded as John Patrick Forbes · John Patrick Edward Forbes
John Forbes
- Born
- 1950 · Melbourne.
- Died
- 1998 · Melbourne.
- Nationality
- Australia
- Occupation
- poet · writer
- Education
- University of Sydney
- Languages
- English
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John Forbes (1 September 1950 – 23 January 1998) was an Australian poet. Forbes was born in Melbourne, but during his childhood his family lived in northern Queensland, Malaya and New Guinea. He went to the University of Sydney, and his circle of friends included the poets Robert Adamson, Martin Johnston, and John Tranter.
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John Forbes (1950–1998) was an Australian poet and writer. The poet was born and died in Melbourne.
John Forbes studied at University of Sydney. The poet worked in Sydney. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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gnd · 11666875X · wikidata · Q1700085
In this article
Works
Works
It was at this time that the work of the American poets Ted Berrigan, John Ashbery and Frank O’Hara made a strong and lasting impression on him. He returned to live in Melbourne in the late 1980s, where he became the poetry editor of Scripsi. His friends around this time included the poets Gig Ryan, Laurie Duggan and Alan Wearne. Forbes died in Melbourne of a heart attack, aged 47.
• Collected Poems, 1970–1998; 2001, Brandl & Schlesinger,. • Damaged Glamour; 1998, Brandl & Schlesinger,. • Troubador; 1998, Folio/Salt. • Humidity; 1998, Equipage. • New and Selected Poems; 1992, Angus & Robertson,. • Thin ice & other poems; 1989, Surfers Paradise Press. • The Stunned Mullet; 1988, Hale & Iremonger. • Stalin's Holidays; 1980, Transit Poetry. • Drugs; 1979, Black Lamb Press. • On the Beach; 1977, Sea Cruise Books. • Tropical Skiing; 1976, Angus & Robertson.
Identity
Identity
John Forbes is recorded as poet and writer.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1950
John Forbes born at Melbourne.
1998
John Forbes died at Melbourne.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 11666875X, Royle, John Forbes.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1700085: John Forbes
General reference · Wikidata
Literature
Literature
Forbes, John, Oxford Music Online, 2001
Forbes, John Colin, Benezit Dictionary of Artists, 2011
Related works
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Craven, Peter. Poet and critic of the first rank. The Age. 30. 1998-01-28.
- 2.Richardson, Owen. Snatched from our midst, for no rhyme or reason. The Age. 21. 1998-02-01.
- 3.Clark, Andrew. Aussie poet's shock death. The Age. 10. 1998-01-24.
- 4.Porter, Peter. A pure poet of impurities. The Age. 110. 1998-08-01.
- 5.Schwartz, Larry. Offerings from a painstaking perfectionist. The Age. 35. 1992-04-26.
- 6.Redford, Jennifer. The poet as his worst enemy. The Sydney Morning Herald. 40. 1989-03-25.
- 7.Shapcott, Thomas. Surface poetry that shocks and disturbs. The Age. 30. 1981-05-23.
References
Citations
References
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 11666875X, Royle, John Forbes.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,529 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- John FoulcherAuthor
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