Sumner Locke Elliott (17 October 1917–24 June 1991) was an Australian (later American) novelist and playwright.[1]
Biography
Elliott was born in Sydney to the writer Sumner Locke and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died of eclampsia one day after his birth.[2] Elliott was raised by his aunts, who had a fierce custody battle over him, fictionalised in Elliott's autobiographical novel, Careful, He Might Hear You. Elliott was educated at Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.[1]
World War II
Elliott became an actor and writer with the Doris Fitton's The Independent Theatre Ltd. He was drafted into the Australian Army in 1942 but was not posted overseas, working as a clerk in Australia. He used those experiences as the inspiration for his controversial play, Rusty Bugles. In October 1948, it achieved the notoriety of being closed down for obscenity by the New South Wales Chief Secretary's Office.[3]
In 1955, he obtained United States citizenship and did not return to Australia until 1974.[1] His TV play The Grey Nurse Said Nothing aired on TV in the US and Australia.[5]
As a gay man during a time when this was not socially approved, Elliott was uncomfortable with his sexuality. He kept it secret until nearly the end of his life before coming out in his book Fairyland. Because of these fears, Elliott had affairs but never had any stable relationships.[7]
