Xavier Herbert

Xavier Herbert (1901-1984) is considered the elder statesman of Australian literature, best known for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel Poor Fellow My Country (1975). His first book, Capricornia, was written in London in the early 1930s and was based partly on his own experiences being a Protector of the Aborigines in Darwin. Herbert was a great champion of Aboriginal people, particularly those living in missions in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and was well known for his outspoken views on indigenous issues as well as his talents as a novelist.