C. J. (Clarence James) Dennis

Born in Auburn, South Australia, on September 7, 1876, C. J. Dennis was an Australian poet and journalist whose full name was Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis. He became widely known for writing in a vivid, conversational style that captured the sound of ordinary Australians.

His biggest success was The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke (1915), a best-selling verse novel that made him a household name. He also wrote The Moods of Ginger Mick, Doreen, and The Glugs of Gosh, mixing humor, storytelling, and a strong feel for spoken language.

Dennis died in Melbourne on June 22, 1938. He remains an important figure in Australian literature because his poems were popular, memorable, and deeply connected to the way people actually spoke and lived.