Remembering P. R. Stephensen:
November 20, 1901 to May 28, 1965

P. R. Stephensen, circa 1934

187 words

Percy Reginald Stephensen was born on November 20, 1901. Stephensen was a writer, publisher, and political activist dedicated to the interests of the white race and the Australian nation. Like Jack London, Stephensen was an archetypal man of the racially conscious left.

Early in his career as a publisher, Stephensen championed the works of Nietzsche, D. H. Lawrence, and Aleister Crowley. Later, he worked to promote a distinctly Australian national literature and culture. As a political organizer and propagandist, he worked for an Australia First economic and foreign policy.

In honor of his birthday, I am reprinting Stephensen’s writings connected with the Australia First Manifesto. I think Stephensen provides a useful literary model that might be adapted for contemporary manifestos.

I am also printing a much expanded version of Kerry Bolton’s biographical essay, “P. R. Stephensen.”

I also wish to draw your attention to two other works by Stephensen on this site:

• “The Foundations of Culture in Australia: An Essay Towards National Self-Respect” (Excerpts from Part One)
• “A Reasoned Case Against Semitism“

For other works by Stephensen, see The Percy Stephensen Collection online: http://home.alphalink.com.au/~radnat/stephensen/index.html