An Unsentimental Bloke by Philip Butterss wins the 2015 National Biography Award

By Susan Wyndham
Updated August 9 2015 - 10:18am, first published August 3 2015 - 6:58pm
Philip Butterss at the State Library of NSW, where he was awarded the National Biography Award for An Unsentimental Bloke: The Life and Work of CJ Dennis. Photo: James Alcock
Philip Butterss at the State Library of NSW, where he was awarded the National Biography Award for An Unsentimental Bloke: The Life and Work of CJ Dennis. Photo: James Alcock
C. J. Dennis is the subject of <i>An Unsentimental Bloke</i>, by Philip Butterss, winner of the 2015 National Biography Award. Photo: Mitchell Library
C. J. Dennis is the subject of <i>An Unsentimental Bloke</i>, by Philip Butterss, winner of the 2015 National Biography Award. Photo: Mitchell Library
C. J. Dennis is the subject of <i>An Unsentimental Bloke</i>, by Philip Butterss, winner of the 2015 National Biography Award. Photo: Mitchell Library
C. J. Dennis is the subject of <i>An Unsentimental Bloke</i>, by Philip Butterss, winner of the 2015 National Biography Award. Photo: Mitchell Library
The many faces of C. J. Dennis. Photo: Mitchell Library
The many faces of C. J. Dennis. Photo: Mitchell Library
C. J. Dennis is the subject of <i>An Unsentimental Bloke</i>, by Philip Butterss, winner of the 2015 National Biography Award. Photo: Mitchell Library
C. J. Dennis is the subject of <i>An Unsentimental Bloke</i>, by Philip Butterss, winner of the 2015 National Biography Award. Photo: Mitchell Library
The many faces of C. J. Dennis. Photo: Mitchell Library
The many faces of C. J. Dennis. Photo: Mitchell Library
The many faces of C. J. Dennis.
 Photo: Mitchell Library
The many faces of C. J. Dennis. Photo: Mitchell Library

When The Songs of the Sentimental Bloke appeared in October 1915, it was an instant success, adding a phrase to the Australian language and making the poet C. J. Dennis more popular than his contemporaries Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson.

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