Life and Myth of Charmian Clift

by Nadia Wheatley

the long-awaited award-winning biography of one of Australia's most charismatic and misunderstood writers. Charmian Clift's writing captivated readers across the nation. Her life inspired legends and fascinated thousands. Now at last here is the real story. Charmian Clift was born in Kiama, New South Wales, in 1923. In this close-knit seaside community Clift felt an outsider and rebelled against the expectations of the working-class town. the beautiful, complex and intelligent young country girl grew into a forthright and witty woman who, after a stint in the war-time army, began a career as a journalist with the Melbourne newspaper the Argus. It was here that Clift met the 'golden boy' war correspondent George Johnston, who went on to write the classic My Brother Jack. Within a short space of time Clift and Johnston had collaborated on the prize-winning novel High Valley, moved to London and then shocked everyone by giving up the sophisticated London life and moving their family to a Greek island to focus on their careers as writers.the long-awaited award-winning biography of one of Australia's most charismatic and misunderstood writers. Charmian Clift's writing captivated readers across the nation. Her life inspired legends and fascinated thousands. Now at last here is the real story. Charmian Clift was born in Kiama, New South Wales, in 1923. In this close-knit seaside community Clift felt an outsider and rebelled against the expectations of the working-class town. the beautiful, complex and intelligent young country girl grew into a forthright and witty woman who, after a stint in the war-time army, began a career as a journalist with the Melbourne newspaper the Argus. It was here that Clift met the 'golden boy' war correspondent George Johnston, who went on to write the classic My Brother Jack. Within a short space of time Clift and Johnston had collaborated on the prize-winning novel High Valley, moved to London and then shocked everyone by giving up the sophisticated London life and moving their family to a Greek island to focus on their careers as writers.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Australia

760 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Nadia Wheatley is an Australian author.

Reviews

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great tragedy of Charmian Clift's life is that she was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Searching for the slim pickings of her literary output is heartbreaking, not only because almost all of her works are, once again, out of print but because so much of her visually and mentally perceptive observations and her ability to singularly replicate place and time is hidden within her husband's work. 'Images in Aspic?' 'The Walk to Paradise Garden?' Sorry. 'My Brother Jack?' Oh, I've heard of that one. It's by George Johnston, isn't it?

Fortunately many Australian readers of The Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Herald of the mid-to-late-sixties fell in love with Charmian and her weekly column, where she frequently critiqued, praised or commented upon contemporary political events and social conventions. The essay form was peculiarly suited to her idiosyncratic style and, in return, she received so many readers' letters every week that eventually her column became an ongoing literary dialogue between her created persona and her hundreds of fans.

Yet, the myth still outlives the writer and it's to Nadia Wheatley's credit that she places equal biographical and critical weight on both life and the legend. This is a story of post-war Australian life that still resonates today and local readers will readily recognise elements of the complacent and consumer-driven society that has always characterised life in 'the lucky country' (and remember, that comment was never meant to be taken at face value).

In appearance, this book looks dauntingly large, but the subject matter is so addictive and the writing style so personal that the pace never falters throughout its seven-hundred-odd pages. Overall, it offers a wonderfully readable version of yet another 'portrait of a marriage' between two brazen, eccentric and creative individuals.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, thoughtful, rich, dense, literary account of the life of Australian writer Charmian Clift. One of the best biographies I've ever read.

[Ian "Marvin" Graye]

...

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FOOTNOTES:

Life Burns High

Invitation by Documentary Australia to donate to the production costs of the documentary, "Life Burns High" (based on the award winning biography ‘The Life and Myth Of Charmian Clift’ by
Nadia Wheatley).

https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/p...

[Chris Waterford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book was overly long and somewhat repetitive, this was more than compensated by the compelling story of the subject and her marriage to George Johnston which was written about by both of them in their "fictional" novels and referred to extensively by this author.

[Frances Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absorbing read!

I've fallen into a bit of a Charmian Clift "rabbit-hole", after stumbling upon a documentary about her ("Charmian Clift: Life Burns High"; in Australia, it's currently (2025) on Foxtel/Binge. The author, Nadia Wheatley, appears in the doco.). Then, I read the lovely "Mermaid Singing," followed by "Peel Me a Lotus".

This biography is thorough and detailed, and gives some insight to Charmian's inspirations for her writing. Her writing seems to have been somewhat overlooked, while George Johnston's (her husband) was acclaimed. Perhaps a sign of the times when she was writing. This beautiful biography redresses some of this "imbalance."

(Also of interest, is the TV series "So Long, Marianne". This series is a dramatisation of the young Leonard Cohen when he spent some time in the Greek Isle. Charmian Clift and George Johnston were living - and writing - there at the same time, and became friends with Leonard. Both Charmian and George are characterised in the TV series.)

[Suz Bennett]

Read Clift and Johnston's books years ago and always loved her writing so eager to read this heavy tome. Nadia writes comprehensively and sympathetically about Charmian. A woman before her time when you read her essays and books.
A great biography.

[Anne Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite superb. Wheatley has captured the life (and death) of this complex, often besieged character in forensic detail and with the inspired insight of someone who understands the demands and shifting fortunes of the writer's life better than most.

[Peter Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's probably helpful to have previously read Clift's Mermaid Singing and Peel me a Lotus, and to a lesser extent George Johnston's My Brother Jack, as these books are frequently referenced. This is a long book, but is an outstanding biography of someone who may not be widely known.

[Danielle Greenslade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rigorously researched biography that reads so well. I ripped through the 650+ pages of this comprehensive capturing of a fascinating life. I feel so much for Charmian. She existed in the wrong era for her ambitions and talents. Highly recommended.

[Adam Windsor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well done, albeit sombre, biography. Society is often unkind to women who have the audacity to speak their minds.

[Nic]

88 pages in. Writing is great but at 650 pages it’s just too much of a commitment. May return to this book in future, when other books aren’t calling me.

[Ian Mcalister · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very detailed, almost finickety, reading of Charmian Clift's turbulent life. I enjoyed it but the tome itself was, in itself, more for a serious student, not for a rank amateur like me who just wanted to know a bit about the woman in George Johnson's life. Maybe I should do what Nardia has done: read Clift's works myself and then tell the story.

[Neens West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not everybody's choice but mine because she lived and wrote prosaically and prolifically about my birthplace Kiama NSW.