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BIOGRAPHY Born in Adelaide, Jeff Guess teaches English in country and metropolitan secondary schools, 'Writing Poetry' at the Adelaide Institute of TAFE, and tutors at the University of South Australia. His first book LEAVING MAPS, published in 1984, was hailed by Judith Rodriguez in The Sydney Morning Herald as 'a major collection'. Samela Harris (The Advertiser) has written of his latest collection WINTER GRACE 'Methinks he is the finest living Australian poet.' He has had eight collections published. Jeff has written two textbooks on teaching poetry and edited eight poetry anthologies. He has won numerous first prizes for his poetry and been awarded five writing grants, and is often on judging panels for major poetry competitions, including the John Bray Award. His poetry has been published widely and has appeared in most Australian newspapers and magazines. He is represented regularly in leading literary magazines: BLUE DOG: AUSTRALIAN POETRY, ISLAND, OVERLAND, QUADRANT, SALT-LICK QUARTERLY, STUDIO and WESTERLY; and major newspapers: THE AGE, THE CANBERRA TIMES, and THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN. In addition to his published work in Australia, he has been published in America, Canada, England, New Zealand, and Wales. His work is frequently anthologised, appearing in THE TIN WASH DISH, edited by John Tranter (ABC Books 1989); THE SEA'S WHITE EDGE, MATTARA PRIZE WINNERS, edited by Paul Kavanagh; (Butterfly Books 1991); THE PENGUIN BOOK OF CHRISTMAS POEMS, edited by K.Pearson and C.Mooney (Penguin Books 1992); THE OXFORD BOOK OF LOVE POEMS, edited by Jennifer Strauss (Oxford 1993); THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS BOOK edited by Kay Fairfax (Collins/A&R 1995); FAMILY TIES edited by Jennifer Strauss (Oxford 1998); THE INDIGO BOOK OF MODERN AUSTRALIAN SONNETS edited by Geoff Page (Indigo 2003). His published collections of poetry are:- LEAVING MAPS (Friendly Street Poets 1984) FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON (Studio 1987) PAINTING THE TOWN: The Gawler Poems (Wakefield Press 1988) REPLACING FUSES IN THE HOUSE OF CARDS (Poetry Australia 1988) RITES OF ARRIVAL: Poems from Museums of the History Trust of SA (Wakefield Press 1990). SELECTED SONNETS (Collins/A&R 1991) LIVING IN THE SHADE OF NOTHING SOLID (Five Islands Press 1998) WINTER GRACE (Five Islands Press 2004) He has edited nine anthologies: THE N0. 12 FRIENDLY STREET READER (Friendly Street Poets 1987). THE INNER COURTYARD: A South Australian Anthology of Love Poetry (Wakefield Press 1990). THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR (Salisbury Council 1992). THE NO. 18 FRIENDLY STREET READER (Friendly Street Poets 1994). POETRY AFTER LUNCH: The University Readings (Adelaide University 1996). A FALL OF RAINBOWS (Williamstown Women Writers 1997). NO STRINGS ATTACHED (Eremos 1999). NEW POETS SEVEN (Friendly Street Poets/Wakefield Press 2002). ENCOUNTERS (Ariel 2002). He has co-written a textbook on teaching poetry in primary schools: HANDS ON POETRY (Twilight Publishing 1991; republished Dominie 1993). He has written a textbook for tertiary students entitled WRITING POETRY, published by the Adelaide Institute of TAFE. There are entries for him in the International Authors and Writers Who's Who, the Who's Who of Australian Writers and the Oxford Companion to Australian Literature; and an article by Geoff Page in A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Australian Poetry (UQP 1995). His papers, manuscripts and letters are held by the National Defence Force Academy Library in Canberra, as part of the 'Australian Special Research Collection'. |
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RECENT REVIEWS: Jeff Guess is the greatest living South Australian poet. Bravo! Peter Goers (Sunday Mail) Jeff Guess is a good poet, among the best we have currently. Max Harris His poetry shines with the light of passion and experience. Written with warmth, intelligence and exceptional insight, he captures time, place and humanity, from the universal to the delightfully local. Jude Aquilina One of the most accomplished poets presently writing in South Australia. Andrew Taylor A significant Australian poet. Paul Grover (Studio) Jeff Guess' name sings contemplative whimsy - but his poetry cuts to the chase. Succinct and sweet, it taps the timeless nerve of human universality while telling our culture's tales with infinite grace. Methinks he is the finest living Australian poet. Samela Harris (The Advertiser) Jeff Guess' quintessential well-made poem evokes the transience of human life while longing for some kind of permanence. He finds much of the transience and some of the permanence in country towns which he recreates in achingly beautiful visual imagery. Graham Rowlands |
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