Description of book
“Her superb biography is, beyond the poignant portrait of the artist and the man, an important addition to the history of our literature and our understanding of its human genesis and cost.” -
Shelton Lea was born secretly, and adopted in the most bizarre circumstances into a high profile family. Growing up he was told he would never inherit the family fortune; that he had been adopted as a playmate for the natural children. Here began a life of extremes and excesses.
Family dynamics produced disastrous outcomes and his adoptive mother placed him in a psychiatric institution at the age of three. He escaped from boys' homes, lived with gypsies, Aborigines, in doorways, in parks and went to prisons along the east coast of Australia. But genetics propelled his ascendance. He was born with tremendous gifts and when, as a teenager in a putrid lock-up, he discovered the writings of Ezra Pound, he knew the path his life would take.
Reports of the legendary Shelton Lea spread. He was a romantic, bohemian outlaw - charming, insolent and contemptuous of authority. He stepped far beyond the bounds of propriety, encouraging comparisons to Rimbaud and Villon.
When he died he took his wizard words, his mesmerising performance, his rabble rousing, and he was hailed as a seer of our age.
Reviews
HER SUPERB BIOGRAPHY IS BEYOND THE POIGNANT PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AND THE MAN, AN IMPIORTANT ADDITION TO THE HISTORY OF OUR LITERATURE AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ITS HUMAN GENESIS AND COST” Kathy Hunt, Bulletin
‘DELINQUENT IS A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED AND DEEPLY MOVING STORY.” Rod Moran, Literary Editor, West Australian.
‘THIS IS A SUPERB BIOGRAPHY OF POET SHELTON LEA…. IT DOES WHAT BIOGRAPHIES AT THEIR VERY BEST DO,… AND THEN SOMETHING QUITE EXTRAORDINARY” Kathleen Noonan. Courier Mail.
‘THIS BIOGRAPHY CAN BE ENJOYABLY READ BY THOSE WHO NEVER KNEW HIS LEGENDS, RUMOURS AND YARNS. IT IS TOLD WITH PASSION AND DETACHMENT.” Alan Wearne. Sydney Morning Herald.
“THE MATERIAL GEORGEFF UNCOVERS AND THEN WRITES ABOUT WITH SUCH CALM CONTROLLED PROSE DELIVERS A TERRIBLE PUNCH” Angela Bennie, Sydney Morning Herald.
‘THIS IS A WELL RESEARCHED, SYMPATHETIC AND WORTHWHILE BOOK…… YOU SHOULD READ IT FOR YOURSELF” John Tranter, The Australian.
‘IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL DISCOVER ONE OF THE MORE BIZARRE LIFE STORIES YOU’RE LIKELY TO READ.” Jon Faine, ABC Radio.
‘DIANA GEORGEFF’S BIOGRAPHY IS ESSENTIAL READING” - Gig Ryan, The Age
“Shelton Lea deserves to be remembered as an insurgent poet always challenging the status quo.’ LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI, poet, writer, publisher and founder of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco
'Shelton Lea is the Jack Kerouac of Australian poetry.' BARRY DICKINS
'Riveting to read Diana Georgeff's oeuvre on Shelton Lea: poets tell us unbelievable stories, but they are always true - a kind of truth only poets know.' MIRKA MORA
'The heartbreaking story of a ruined child poet whose wounds never healed. Diana Georgeff's tireless research, and her calm insight and intelligence, make this a riveting biography that moves and horrifies in turn.’ DIANA GRIBBLE
‘I cannot imagine a better name than DELINQUENT ANGEL for this beautifully written book. A growing brain needs love as surely as it needs food and oxygen. Without love, a rejected boy becomes delinquent, sheltering from his fear behind arrogance, alcohol or aggression. This is the story of Shelton Lea, in whom an angel of poetry and compassion survived and flourished, allowing a delinquent to be both lovable and remarkable.’ - JULIAN SHORT, psychiatrist and author of AN INTELLIGENT LIFE
“IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL DISCOVER ONE OF THE MORE
BIZARRE LIFE STORIES YOU’RE LIKELY TO READ”. Jon Faine, ABC Radio.
‘THE MATERIAL GEORGEFF UNCOVERS AND THEN WRITES ABOUT WITH SUCH CALM CONTROLLED PROSE DELIVERS A TERRIBLE PUNCH’ Angela Bennie, Sydney Morning Herald.
‘DELINQUENT IS A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED AND DEEPLY MOVING STORY.” Rod Moran, Literary Editor, West Australian.
‘THIS IS A SUPERB BIOGRAPHY THAT BRINGS ALIVE A COMPLEX MAN…. IT DOES WHAT BIOGRAPHIES AT THEIR VERY BEST DO,… AND THEN SOMETHING QUITE EXTRAORDINARY” Kathleen Noonan. Courier Mail.
‘HER SUPERB BIOGRAPHY IS BEYOND THE POIGNANT PORTRAIT OF THE MAN, AN IMPORTANT ADDITION TO THE HISTORY OF OUR LITERATURE AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ITS HUMAN GENESIS AND COST’. Kathy Hunt, Bulletin
‘THIS BIOGRAPHY CAN BE ENJOYABLY READ BY THOSE WHO NEVER KNEW HIS LEGENDS, RUMOURS AND YARNS. IT IS TOLD WITH PASSION AND DETACHMENT.” Alan Wearne. Sydney Morning Herald.
‘THIS IS A WELL RESEARCHED, SYMPATHETIC AND WORTHWHILE BOOK… YOU SHOULD READ IT FOR YOURSELF” John Trantor, The Australian.