Interview of 1973 Nobel laureate Patrick White (1912-1990)

As a writer, Patrick White never gave interviews or wrote for magazines and newspapers. His life was private until October 1973 when the Swedish Academy awarded him with the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first and only time an Australian has ever won the award. He had never given an interview for foreign or Australian television and the day after the announcement in Stockholm, White accepted journalist Mike Carlton in his Sydney home and gave this interview for ABC's "Four Corners".
The Swedish Academy say of White: "He is the one who, for the first time, has given the continent of Australia an authentic voice that carries across the world, at the same time as his achievement contributes to the development, both artistic and, as regards ideas, of contemporary literature."
White today is regarded as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. He was born in London in 1912 from Australian parents, was a close friend in his youth of Irish painter Francis Bacon, was later stationed during WWII in Egypt and later moved to Australia with his partner, Manolis Lascaris, where he became a full-time writer by 1948. By the time he won the Nobel Prize, he had written 9 novels, one short story collection and 4 plays. He passed away in his Centennial Park home in Sydney in 1990.

[@julieb2968]

Good to see here Australia's literary giant interviewed in Whitlam era, Sydney, probably his home in Centennial Park. Thank you.

[@gemmanaz20]

Patrick was a beautiful soul who loved older women as friends . We in turn have always adored Patrick himself.

[@amitthakur8162]

Only extraordinary people can remain so humble after reaching such heights of success !!

[@JustinTanner1964]

Greatest writer that has ever lived. Ever. Lived.

[@jolantaczerwonka7440]

His books will never go out of my mind

[@tonysouter8095]

One of the greatest English-language writers of the 20th century. Let's be modest.

[@Matrix_Host]

Agreed

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Only read my first Patrick White recently - and realised what I had missed ! He is one of the Greats ! Obviously a man who doesn't suffer fools gladly and rather intimidating to interview .

[@smck001]

Genius.

[@lpc8278]

Sydney then, geez ....imagine now his thoughts

[@richardquirk7581]

A Great Writer but an interviewer's nightmare.

[@samuelgrobstein5232]

5:34 I love this reply :)

[@milesknightestrada3286]

Though an Australian, he sounds exceedingly English. The interviewer is more an Aussie than White.

[@johnsalmond]

man who invented the Sydney suburb of Barrenugli, site of the Brighta Bicycle Lamps factory, is as Australian as you get

[@julieb2968]

Patrick White was born in England.

[@johnsalmond]

White was born in England while his parents were on a visit. He was dinky di Aussie. He was from a posh family and spent much time in England, so sounded English to Aussies, though probably not to English

[@milesknightestrada3286]

That explains it.

[@pepryan2183]

@@johnsalmond I'm English and I have to say, White does sound vaguely English with a faint hint of Oz.

[@milesknightestrada3286]

4:30.

[@milesknightestrada3286]

3:21, 3:23, 3:26.

[@milesknightestrada3286]

0:27, 0:43.

[@mcleanedwards7748]

Uncomfortable

[@jim-se5xc]

You'll be ok.

[@mcleanedwards7748]

He had new dentures

[@jim-se5xc]

Thank you so much for sharing.