By A.B. "Banjo" Paterson
"Happy Dispatches is A.B. "Banjo" Paterson's lively collection of autobiographical reminiscences, drawn from some forty years of travel, journalism and wartime experience. Beginning with his journey to the South African War in 1899, Paterson recalls the campaigns, personalities and curious incidents he witnessed, combining first-hand history with the dry humour, keen observation and unmistakably Australian voice for which he became celebrated.
Among those encountered are Lord Milner, Lord Allenby, Winston Churchill, Rudyard Kipling, "Chinese" Morrison and the military commanders Roberts, French and Haig. Paterson deliberately presents these prominent figures away from their public grandeur, recording their personalities and human peculiarities alongside stories of soldiers, horsemen, correspondents and ordinary Australians abroad. The result is an engaging memoir of empire, war and travel, enlivened throughout by anecdotes that range from the revealing to the highly amusing.
Published in Sydney by Angus & Robertson Limited in 1934, this is the first edition, set up, printed and bound in Australia by Halstead Printing Company Ltd. The volume includes a photographic portrait frontispiece of Paterson with a facsimile signature and is presented in its original red cloth binding, decorated and lettered in black. An important later work by one of Australia's most enduring literary figures and a particularly appealing piece of Australian military and publishing history."
Light wear and fading to covers and spine. Pages clean and well presented. No inscriptions. A nice original copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
