Left school at 15; became commercial artist, film cartoonist,
laundryman and bushworker. First novel won second prize in Australia's
biggest literary contest, launching his writing career. Novel "Peter's
Pence" one American Edgar Allen Poe Prize as best crime novel of
1974.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
Famed Australian author who grew up in rough conditions in Sydney and
begun writing during the second world war while stationed in North
Africa. In his career he has written over 60 books, many of which have
gone on to become movies, most notably "The Sundowners" and "High Road
to China". In addition to this he worked extensivley in Hollywood
during the 1960s and 70s. In 1972 he was awarded the Edgar Allen Poe
award for "Peter's Pence". More recently he has focused on the Scobie
Malone series of books, which tell the tales of a detective working in
Sydney.