"This collection of seven volumes by Alan Marshall (1902-1984) brings together a representative selection of works from one of Australia's most admired autobiographical writers. Marshall is best known for his vivid recollections of rural Australian life and for the courage and humanity expressed in his writing following childhood polio. The collection includes This Is The Grass (1962), In Mine Own Heart (1963), Whispering in the Wind (1969), Hammers Over the Anvil (1975), I Can Jump Oceans (1976), Alan Marshall Talking (1978), and These Are My People (1984), several of them first editions issued during the height of Marshall's literary reputation.
Marshall's writing is distinguished by its warmth, clarity, and deep sympathy for ordinary Australians, particularly those living in the rural communities of Victoria where he grew up. Works such as I Can Jump Oceans and This Is The Grass form part of his celebrated autobiographical cycle, recounting childhood struggles, resilience, and the vibrant characters who shaped his early life. Titles like Hammers Over the Anvil and Whispering in the Wind continue this tradition, blending memoir with evocative portrayals of country towns and the personalities that inhabit them.
Together these volumes provide a pleasing cross-section of Marshall's literary career and offer an appealing shelf presence for collectors of Australian literature. With several first editions included and all presented in their original dust jackets, the set provides both literary interest and nostalgic charm. This grouping would appeal to collectors of Australian autobiographical writing, admirers of Alan Marshall's classic works, and readers interested in twentieth-century Australian social history."
