Les Murray is amongst the most gifted poets writing today, his multi-faceted talents have received high praise both in his native Australia and beyond. But he has also proved a controversial figure, whose poetry strays across the boundaries of political and cultural debate. The only full critical study of Murray's work available, Steven Matthews provides a complete picture of his career to date, from its early parables of national emergence to the working man's epic encounter with the major events of the twentieth century, Fredy Neptune. Provides detailed readings of key poems, as well as literary and cultural contexts for the rapid shifts in style and subject matter Murray has made from collection to collection. Gives an overview of Murray's place within Australian literature and national thought.

Bestselling author Steven Matthews has lived a life full of adventure and intrigue. Born into poverty, Steven had to learn a variety of skills to survive. He's worked as an app developer for a while, then opened series of restaurants, then started a cannabis growing operation, built it up, and sold it. He used the money to build and live in a tiny house for a few years while traveling around North America meeting people and doing odd jobs, he wanted to see more. When he realized he couldn't take his house across the ocean, Steven sold it and moved to China for a few years... That's when things got interesting.Today, Steven lives in the desert outskirts of Las Vegas in a house he designed and built himself. Together with his miniature American Eskimo, Gala (Portuguese for "Lady Killer"), Steven is determined to share all of the experiences, skills, and stories he's picked up over the years. He hopes that the content of his books will be able to help readers as much as it has helped him. He hopes to hit 100 published books by next year.

1. Contexts and intertexts
2. This Country is My Mind; The Ilex Tree, The Weatherboard Cathedral
3. Ethnic Radios; Poems Against Economics, Lunch and Counter Lunch, Ethnic Radio
4. God Bless the General Poetries?; The Boys Whoe Stole the Funeral, The People's Otherworld, The Daylight Moon, Dog Fox Field
5. Presences; Translations from the Natural World, Subhuman Redneck Poems, Fredy Neptune
6. Critical Overview and Conclusion
7. Bibliography