CLARKE, MARCUS (1846-1881)

—Novelist, b. in London, the s. of a barrister. After a somewhat wild youth he went to Australia where, after more than one failure to achieve succe in busine , he took to journalism on the staff of the Melbourne Argus , with brilliant results. He wrote two novels, Long Odds and For the Term of his Natural Life (1874), the latter, which is generally considered his masterpiece, dealing in a powerful and realistic manner with transportation and convict labour. He also wrote many short tales and dramatic pieces. After a turbulent and improvident life he d. at 35. In addition to the works above mentioned, he wrote Lower Bohemia in Melbourne , The Humbug Papers , The Future Australian Race . As a writer he was keen, brilliant, and bitter.