A handsomely presented collection of the poetry of one of Australia's best-known poets. All the poems that Paterson wrote are published in this one elegantly-illustrated volume.
This famous ballad of the outback wanderer who drowned himself rather than lose his freedom needs no introduction. There is no swagman as legendary as the tragic hero of this tale, and there is no Australian song as well-known throughout the world. Here the famous ballad is given new depth and perspective. Talented illustrator Freya Blackwood has explored the intriguing background behind the writing of this song, and has shown us not just the lively story of a proud outback larrikin, but also a glimpse into the clashes and struggles that were so formative of Australian history.
The poet A B 'Banjo' Paterson, best known for his rousing folk classics "The Man from Snowy River" and "Waltzing Matilda," is widely acknowledged as Australia's greatest and most popular balladist. His poems, written with great gusto and humour, celebrate all the romance and rough-and-tumble of old Australia. In this collection, leading Paterson scholar Clement Semmler presents more than 100 of Paterson's poems that reflect the remarkable richness and range of his writings. Generously illustrated with period drawings, this first Penguin edition of Paterson's verse pays tribute to one of Australia's favourite sons – 'the Banjo of the Bush.'
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
The poetry selected for this collection reveals Paterson's love and appreciation for the Australian bush and its people. It contains not only widely published and quoted poems such as 'On Kiley's Run' and 'Clancy of The Overflow', but also lesser known poems such as 'The Uplift' and 'The Wind's Message'. The colour plates of works by Australian artists subtly illustrate the images evoked by the poems.