Bernard Cronin
A tireless literary campaigner who co-founded the Society of Australian Authors, creating a vital support network for writers.
1884–1968 (age 84)·Australian author and journalist·Birthday: March 18·The Lost Generation
Biography
Bernard Cronin was a man of words and action, whose life was steeped in the ink of journalism and the camaraderie of literary circles. Born in England, he moved to Australia as a young man and found his voice in the bustling newspaper world of Melbourne. He was a prolific novelist, churning out adventure tales and mysteries that captured the public's imagination. But his most enduring impact was organizational. In 1920, together with writer Gertrude Hart, he founded the Old Derelicts' Club, a whimsically named but serious-minded gathering for struggling authors. This club evolved directly into the Society of Australian Authors, an institution that provided practical support, advocacy, and community for writers. Cronin served as its president for many years, fighting for copyright protection and fair pay. His legacy isn't just on the bookshelf, but in the foundational structure that helped Australian literature thrive.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Bernard was born in 1884, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bernard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1884
Bernard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1884Born
President: Chester A. Arthur
1889Started school
Eiffel Tower opens in Paris
President: Benjamin Harrison
1897Became a teenager
President: William McKinley
1900Could drive
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1902Could vote
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Turned 21
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Turned 30
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Turned 40
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1934Turned 50
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1944Turned 60
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 70
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 80
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1968Died at 84
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the Old Derelicts' Club in 1920, which became the cornerstone of the Society of Australian Authors.
- Served as the President of the Society of Australian Authors for nearly three decades, from 1939 to 1968.
- Authored over 30 novels and numerous short stories, often focusing on adventure and mystery genres.
Did You Know?
He worked as a journalist for major Australian papers like The Argus and The Herald.
During World War I, he served with the Australian Imperial Force in Egypt and France.
His novel 'The Coastlanders' was a bestseller in its time.
“A good yarn needs real characters and the smell of the bush.”
