Leslie Allan "Les" MurrayAO (born 17 October 1938) is an Australian poet, anthologist and critic. His career spans over forty years and he has published nearly 30 volumes of poetry as well as two verse novels and collections of his prose writings. His poetry has won many awards and he is regarded as "the leading Australian poet of his generation". He has also been involved in several controversies over his career and has been rated by the National Trust of Australia as one of the 100 Australian Living Treasures.
Les James MurrayAM (born László Ürge, Hungarian pronunciation:[ˈlaːsloː ˈyrɡɛ]; Budapest, Hungary, 5 November 1945) is an Australian sports journalist, soccer broadcaster and analyst. He was the host of The World Game on SBS television, retiring in July 2014, and has been inducted into the FFA's Football Hall of Fame.
As the country's most prominent TV presenter of soccer, Murray has played a major role in the sport's growing popularity in Australia since the 1980s. Murray coined the phrase "the world game", which later became the title of SBS's football programme.
Early life
Murray was born as László Ürge in a small village on the outskirts of Budapest,Hungary, the son of József and Erzsébet Ürge. The family immigrated to Australia in 1957 under the Hungarian Refugee Assisted Scheme. They resided at Wollongong, New South Wales after some time at Bonegilla Migrant Camp near Wodonga. He was educated at Berkeley High School (now Illawarra Sports High School). He decided to anglicise his name because Ürge was difficult for Australians to pronounce and prone to taunts; the name Murray was suggested by his father as "Muray" is also Hungarian for "of the Mura River".
Excerpt from the film ''The Daylight Moon' about the poet Les Murray. Featherstone Productions. Directed by Don Featherstone.
published: 29 Jun 2012
THE DAYLIGHT MOON A film about the poet Les Murray
A profile of Australia’s leading poet which takes a biographical route. The film opens in a small rural township 150 miles north of Sydney where Les Murray was born to a family of dairy farmers and timber cutters who arrived form Scotland in the 1840’s. It follows his journey to Sydney where he discovered a talent for verse, slept rough on Bondi golf course, married and produced a large family and eventually returned to the farm. The narrative is interspersed with dramatisations of Murray’s isolated childhood, family photographs and the poet reading his works. His poems record the journey at every stage enabling the footage of places and people to evocatively match Murray’s verse. Murray says poems often come to him like a tune and he tries to write them in his head first before settling i...
published: 05 Dec 2023
'An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow' by Les Murray (Poetry Analysis Video)
This video contains a close Analysis of Les Murray's, 'An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow', with a discussion of the poem's historical context, major themes, and Murray's use of poetic techniques.
'An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow' is the eighth video in the 'Poetry Analysis Series' from Litpoetry and is designed for students of poetry at both the beginner and advanced levels.
Want to know more about poetry?
Then follow us here at Litpoetry as we go on a journey of discovery; reading, analysing and discussing some of the most important poems ever written.
Litpoetry's aim is to foster the love of poetry in a world where people find it hard knowing where to get started.
We aim to provide you, the audience, with a firm foundation of knowledge and understanding to foster a love of this magn...
published: 02 Oct 2020
Les Murray, discussing early Australian poetry. University of Sydney
Poet Les Murray puts on his anthologist's hat and introduces his favourites amongst Australia's early English-language poets.Sydney University(Part 1 of 2) Click here for...
published: 03 May 2013
Poetry reading by Les A Murray AO
29 April 2014, Fisher Library, University of Sydney with an introduction by Anne Bell, University Librarian and Sue Butler, Editor, The Macquarie Dictionary.
Clarification: In the introduction (01:40) Anne Bell references an internet essay. This essay was "Les Murray for beginners" by Janet Kenny.
Les Murray is an acclaimed Australian and internationally recognised poet, anthologist and critic, and a National Living Treasure. Les reads some old favourites and a number of new poems from a book in the making.
published: 28 May 2014
Australian Literature 102: Les Murray: Selected Poems
Les Murray is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest living poets – and an international literary legend. The New Yorker has described him as ‘now routinely mentioned among the three or four leading English-language poets’.
David Astle has long been a fan, and explains why during this session with series host James Ley.
published: 27 Jan 2015
Les Murray - poet
Excerpt from the film 'The Daylight Moon'. Featherstone Productions. Directed by Don Featherstone.
published: 29 Jun 2012
Michael Schmidt reads from Les Murray's Waiting for the Past
Michael Schmidt (Publisher at Carcanet) reads from Les' shortlisted collection Waiting for the Past at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.
Poetry Book Society Members get 25% off poetry book orders through our website! Find it here: https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk
Tweet @ us: https://twitter.com/PoetryBookSoc
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published: 13 Jan 2016
Les Murray on Killing the Black Dog (p1)
Part 1 | Part 2 Killing the Black Dog is Les Murray’s courageous account of his struggle with depression, accompanied by a special selection of his poems. In this event at...
published: 03 May 2013
Taller When Prone. Les Murray at the Sydney Writers' Festival (p1)
Part 1 | Part 2 Australia's most acclaimed and respected poet, Les Murray, takes to the stage at the Sydney Writers' Festival to speak about and read from his new...
A profile of Australia’s leading poet which takes a biographical route. The film opens in a small rural township 150 miles north of Sydney where Les Murray was ...
A profile of Australia’s leading poet which takes a biographical route. The film opens in a small rural township 150 miles north of Sydney where Les Murray was born to a family of dairy farmers and timber cutters who arrived form Scotland in the 1840’s. It follows his journey to Sydney where he discovered a talent for verse, slept rough on Bondi golf course, married and produced a large family and eventually returned to the farm. The narrative is interspersed with dramatisations of Murray’s isolated childhood, family photographs and the poet reading his works. His poems record the journey at every stage enabling the footage of places and people to evocatively match Murray’s verse. Murray says poems often come to him like a tune and he tries to write them in his head first before settling into the typewriter and committing the words to paper with a single finger.
A profile of Australia’s leading poet which takes a biographical route. The film opens in a small rural township 150 miles north of Sydney where Les Murray was born to a family of dairy farmers and timber cutters who arrived form Scotland in the 1840’s. It follows his journey to Sydney where he discovered a talent for verse, slept rough on Bondi golf course, married and produced a large family and eventually returned to the farm. The narrative is interspersed with dramatisations of Murray’s isolated childhood, family photographs and the poet reading his works. His poems record the journey at every stage enabling the footage of places and people to evocatively match Murray’s verse. Murray says poems often come to him like a tune and he tries to write them in his head first before settling into the typewriter and committing the words to paper with a single finger.
This video contains a close Analysis of Les Murray's, 'An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow', with a discussion of the poem's historical context, major themes, and Mu...
Poet Les Murray puts on his anthologist's hat and introduces his favourites amongst Australia's early English-language poets.Sydney University(Part 1 ...
Poet Les Murray puts on his anthologist's hat and introduces his favourites amongst Australia's early English-language poets.Sydney University(Part 1 of 2) Click here for...
Poet Les Murray puts on his anthologist's hat and introduces his favourites amongst Australia's early English-language poets.Sydney University(Part 1 of 2) Click here for...
29 April 2014, Fisher Library, University of Sydney with an introduction by Anne Bell, University Librarian and Sue Butler, Editor, The Macquarie Dictionary.
Cl...
29 April 2014, Fisher Library, University of Sydney with an introduction by Anne Bell, University Librarian and Sue Butler, Editor, The Macquarie Dictionary.
Clarification: In the introduction (01:40) Anne Bell references an internet essay. This essay was "Les Murray for beginners" by Janet Kenny.
Les Murray is an acclaimed Australian and internationally recognised poet, anthologist and critic, and a National Living Treasure. Les reads some old favourites and a number of new poems from a book in the making.
29 April 2014, Fisher Library, University of Sydney with an introduction by Anne Bell, University Librarian and Sue Butler, Editor, The Macquarie Dictionary.
Clarification: In the introduction (01:40) Anne Bell references an internet essay. This essay was "Les Murray for beginners" by Janet Kenny.
Les Murray is an acclaimed Australian and internationally recognised poet, anthologist and critic, and a National Living Treasure. Les reads some old favourites and a number of new poems from a book in the making.
Les Murray is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest living poets – and an international literary legend. The New Yorker has described him as ‘now routinely me...
Les Murray is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest living poets – and an international literary legend. The New Yorker has described him as ‘now routinely mentioned among the three or four leading English-language poets’.
David Astle has long been a fan, and explains why during this session with series host James Ley.
Les Murray is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest living poets – and an international literary legend. The New Yorker has described him as ‘now routinely mentioned among the three or four leading English-language poets’.
David Astle has long been a fan, and explains why during this session with series host James Ley.
Michael Schmidt (Publisher at Carcanet) reads from Les' shortlisted collection Waiting for the Past at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.
Poetry Book Soci...
Michael Schmidt (Publisher at Carcanet) reads from Les' shortlisted collection Waiting for the Past at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.
Poetry Book Society Members get 25% off poetry book orders through our website! Find it here: https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk
Tweet @ us: https://twitter.com/PoetryBookSoc
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poetrybooksoc/
Michael Schmidt (Publisher at Carcanet) reads from Les' shortlisted collection Waiting for the Past at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.
Poetry Book Society Members get 25% off poetry book orders through our website! Find it here: https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk
Tweet @ us: https://twitter.com/PoetryBookSoc
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poetrybooksoc/
Part 1 | Part 2 Killing the Black Dog is Les Murray’s courageous account of his struggle with depression, accompanied by a special selection of his poems....
Part 1 | Part 2 Killing the Black Dog is Les Murray’s courageous account of his struggle with depression, accompanied by a special selection of his poems. In this event at...
Part 1 | Part 2 Killing the Black Dog is Les Murray’s courageous account of his struggle with depression, accompanied by a special selection of his poems. In this event at...
Part 1 | Part 2 Australia's most acclaimed and respected poet, Les Murray, takes to the stage at the Sydney Writers' Festival to speak about and read ...
Part 1 | Part 2 Australia's most acclaimed and respected poet, Les Murray, takes to the stage at the Sydney Writers' Festival to speak about and read from his new...
Part 1 | Part 2 Australia's most acclaimed and respected poet, Les Murray, takes to the stage at the Sydney Writers' Festival to speak about and read from his new...
A profile of Australia’s leading poet which takes a biographical route. The film opens in a small rural township 150 miles north of Sydney where Les Murray was born to a family of dairy farmers and timber cutters who arrived form Scotland in the 1840’s. It follows his journey to Sydney where he discovered a talent for verse, slept rough on Bondi golf course, married and produced a large family and eventually returned to the farm. The narrative is interspersed with dramatisations of Murray’s isolated childhood, family photographs and the poet reading his works. His poems record the journey at every stage enabling the footage of places and people to evocatively match Murray’s verse. Murray says poems often come to him like a tune and he tries to write them in his head first before settling into the typewriter and committing the words to paper with a single finger.
Poet Les Murray puts on his anthologist's hat and introduces his favourites amongst Australia's early English-language poets.Sydney University(Part 1 of 2) Click here for...
29 April 2014, Fisher Library, University of Sydney with an introduction by Anne Bell, University Librarian and Sue Butler, Editor, The Macquarie Dictionary.
Clarification: In the introduction (01:40) Anne Bell references an internet essay. This essay was "Les Murray for beginners" by Janet Kenny.
Les Murray is an acclaimed Australian and internationally recognised poet, anthologist and critic, and a National Living Treasure. Les reads some old favourites and a number of new poems from a book in the making.
Les Murray is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest living poets – and an international literary legend. The New Yorker has described him as ‘now routinely mentioned among the three or four leading English-language poets’.
David Astle has long been a fan, and explains why during this session with series host James Ley.
Michael Schmidt (Publisher at Carcanet) reads from Les' shortlisted collection Waiting for the Past at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.
Poetry Book Society Members get 25% off poetry book orders through our website! Find it here: https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk
Tweet @ us: https://twitter.com/PoetryBookSoc
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poetrybooksoc/
Part 1 | Part 2 Killing the Black Dog is Les Murray’s courageous account of his struggle with depression, accompanied by a special selection of his poems. In this event at...
Part 1 | Part 2 Australia's most acclaimed and respected poet, Les Murray, takes to the stage at the Sydney Writers' Festival to speak about and read from his new...
Leslie Allan "Les" MurrayAO (born 17 October 1938) is an Australian poet, anthologist and critic. His career spans over forty years and he has published nearly 30 volumes of poetry as well as two verse novels and collections of his prose writings. His poetry has won many awards and he is regarded as "the leading Australian poet of his generation". He has also been involved in several controversies over his career and has been rated by the National Trust of Australia as one of the 100 Australian Living Treasures.
I thought it might be possible Australians would become a nation of coffee shop constitutional experts ... Read more ... 01.48 ... Even its principal author, the poet Les Murray, joked “the Australian people had mercifully taken it out the back and shot it” ... .
The preamble, co-written by then Liberal prime minister John Howard, a monarchist, and the late poet Les Murray, received just 39.3 per cent popular support in November 1999 and it failed in every state of Australia.