Маркус Эндрю Хислоп Кларк (англ. Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke; 24 апреля1846, Лондон — 2 августа 1881, Мельбурн) — австралийский писатель.
Юношей он эмигрировал в Австралию. Работал клерком в банке, затем пытался стать фермером; в 1867 г. начал посылать рассказы в журнал «Australian Magazine». Позднее работал библиотекарем в Мельбурнской публичной библиотеке. Известность его основана главным образом на его беллетристических сочинениях, в которых он выступал тонким наблюдателем и реальным бытописателем. Из них наиболее выделяются роман «К пожизненной ссылке» (англ. «For the term of His Natural Life»; 1875), в котором описывается невыносимая жизнь ссыльных в Тасмании в начале XIX века, и повести «Chidiok Tich hourne», «Heavy Odds», «The Mystery of Major Molinew» и «Twist Shadow and Shine». В 1868 г. он основал Yorick Club — литературный кружок, со временем собравший в свои ряды многих значительных австралийских авторов. Был знаком с поэтом-романтиком Виктором Дейли.
Biography[edit]
Marcus Clarke was born in London on 24 April 1846 and was educated at Highgate School. He was the only child of William Hislop Clarke. William was sent to Northumberland House in 1862 because of a mental breakdown and died there a year later. His mother was named Amelia Elizabeth Mathews. Marcus emigrated to Australia, where his uncle, James Langton Clarke, was a county court judge. He was at first a clerk in the Bank of Australia, but showed no business ability, and soon proceeded to learn farming at a station on theWimmera River, Victoria.
He was already writing stories for the Australian Magazine, when in 1867 he joined the staff of The Argus in Melbournethrough the introduction of Dr. Robert Lewins. He briefly visited Tasmania in 1870 at the request of The Argus to experience at first hand the settings of articles he was writing on the convict period. Old Stories Retold began to appear inThe Australasian from February. The following month his great novel His Natural Life (later called For the Term of His Natural Life) commenced serialisation in the Australasian Journal. He also became secretary (1872) to the trustees of the Melbourne Athenauem and later (1876) Sub (assistant) Librarian. He founded in 1868 the Yorick Club, which soon numbered among its members the chief Australian men of letters.
The most famous of his books is For the Term of his Natural Life (Melbourne, 1874), a powerful tale of an Australianpenal settlement. He also wrote The Peripatetic Philosopher (1869), a series of amusing papers reprinted from The Australasian; Long Odds (London, 1870), a novel; and numerous comedies and pantomimes, the best of which wasTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Theatre Royal, Melbourne; Christmas, 1873). In 1869 he married the actress Marian Dunn, with whom he had six children.
For the Term of His Natural Life is a "ripping yarn", which at times relies on unrealistic coincidences. The story follows the fortunes of Rufus Dawes, a young man transported for a theft that he did not commit, from the victim of a mugging - to whom he was actually rendering assistance. The harsh and inhumane treatment meted out to the convicts, some of whom were transported for relatively minor crimes, is clearly conveyed. The conditions experienced by the convicts are graphically described. The novel was based on research by the author as well as a visit to the penal settlement of Port Arthur.
Clarke was an important literary figure in Australia, and was the centre of an important bohemian circle. Among the writers were in contact with him were Victor Daley and George Gordon McCrae.
In spite of his popular success, Clarke was constantly involved in pecuniary difficulties, which are said to have hastened his death at Melbourne on 2 August 1881 at the age of 35.
