Biography Mary E Fullerton

Poet Biography

Mary Fullerton was born in a bark hut in Glenmaggie, Victoria. She grew to become a strong campaigner on behalf of feminist issues and a dedicated writer. She contributed many poems and articles to journals and newspapers using the name ‘Alpenstock’. She wrote volumes of poetry and fiction, descriptive work, and her childhood reminiscences.
In 1922 Fullerton sailed for England to become a permanent resident, but she maintained her friendship with Miles Franklin by correspondence. This friendship was instrumental in the publication of her poetry, in the 1940’s, under the pseudonym ‘E’.

There was much speculation regarding the identity of ‘E’ in literary circles. After Fullerton’s death the ‘E’ was explained, she had employed it as a mark of admiration for her mother, Eliza, and for Emily Bronte and Emily Dickenson, her two chosen writers.

Fullerton also wrote two novels under the pseudonyms ‘Robert Gray’ (1932) and ‘Gordon Manners’ (1933). Another novel (1923) published anonymously, and submitted to the London publisher Philpott, made her the recipient of their prize for one of the best books of self-revelation.

Mary Fullerton died in 1946