Songs Of The Gold Fields
By S. Le Maitre
Edited by Frank Cusack
Published by Garravembi Press 1991 1st Edition
Signed by Editor - Limited Edition #136 of 305 Copies
"Songs Of The Gold Fields brings together the verse and songs of Samuel Le Maitre (1815-1876), one of the most distinctive poetic voices to emerge from the Victorian goldfields. Written amidst the excitement and hardships of the great gold rush era, these compositions capture the aspirations, humour and everyday experiences of the diggers and settlers who helped shape colonial Australia. Including such pieces as The Digger's Choice, The Flash Digger and Homeward Bound, the collection preserves a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of Australia's literary and folk heritage.
Edited with an informative introduction and scholarly notes by noted Australian folklorist Frank Cusack, this handsome volume was published by Garravembi Press in 1991. Beautifully produced at Willow Bend, Thumb Creek, the work formed the sixth book issued by the private press and was printed in a strictly limited edition of just 305 copies. Cusack's editorial work places Le Maitre's writings within the broader context of nineteenth-century goldfields culture and highlights their importance as authentic expressions of colonial life and sentiment.
This first edition example is particularly desirable, being numbered 136 of only 305 copies printed and signed by Frank Cusack on the limitation page. Bound in decorative boards and preserved in excellent condition, the volume represents an attractive piece of Australian private press printing and an important contribution to the study of goldfields literature. Collectors of Australiana, Australian poetry and folk history will find this scarce limited edition an appealing and increasingly difficult work to acquire."
