Did she dance: Referential melancholy in the life of Anne Brennan

This article reflects on the author’s biographical poetry project life of Anne Brennan, daughter Australian poet Christopher Brennan and a figure bohemian notoriety in early 20th century Sydney. poses challenges to historians due limited resources her life, as well legacy misogynist representation. Through practice-led research, attempts re-present archive site feminist grief opportunities for empathy curiosity. The resulted No Camelias , manuscript poetry. objective this is discuss project’s methodology; research Brennan; review literature discussing historical approaches, poetic biography postmodern historiography, focusing role poet-historian concepts referential anxiety melancholy; writing two poems from collection, ‘Did she Dance’ ‘Bitch Index’. followed by poems.