Dr. Toby Davidson

Biography

Toby Davidson is an Australian poetry scholar, creator, facilitator, and editor. His research interests include Australian poetry, particularly focusing on the works of Francis Webb from the post-World War II generation, as well as public commemoration and the interactions between writers and poetry concerning mental health. His archival work at the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library as a Visiting Scholar led to groundbreaking research on Prime Minister John Curtin’s lifelong engagement with poetry from Australian, British, European, Irish, and American writers. This research culminated in a critical monograph titled "Good Soul: John Curtin’s Life and Poetry" published by the University of Western Australia Publishing in 2021. Davidson has also developed a project utilizing GPS and Google Maps technology to create an interactive map of public commemorative sites related to Australian writers. His critical study, "Christian Mysticism in Australian Poetry," published in 2013, was recognized as a significant contribution to the field, leading to his recognition as a leading scholar of Francis Webb. Davidson has coordinated annual poetry readings and has contributed extensively to peer-reviewed journals and anthologies.

Research Interests

Experience