"At The End Of The Moonpath by Australian writer and naturalist Donald MacDonald is a charming early twentieth-century children's fantasy in which the familiar landscapes, birds and animals of Australia are woven into a world of imagination and adventure. Beginning with the enticing idea of a mysterious moonlit path across the ocean, the story carries its young characters into the magical realm of "Moonland", where the natural world assumes a wonderfully fanciful character. MacDonald, well known for his writing on Australian nature and bush life, combines storytelling with his close observation and affection for the country's distinctive flora and fauna.
Across eleven chapters the children encounter such adventures as The Pelicans' Party, The Lyre Birds' Concert, Butterfly Corner, When Fire and Fear Came, At Kangaroo Park and The River Reeds, while shorter verses and songs are interspersed throughout the narrative. Kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, pelicans, lyrebirds, spoonbills and other Australian creatures populate the story, giving the book a distinctly local character at a time when much children's literature available in Australia remained firmly British in setting. The volume is illustrated throughout by C. E. James, including an atmospheric frontispiece and a series of full-page plates complementing MacDonald's imaginative depiction of the Australian landscape.
Published by Whitcombe & Tombs Limited circa 1922, this First Edition was wholly set up and printed in Australia by The Specialty Press Pty Ltd and survives in its attractive original decorated cloth bindings. Particularly pleasing is the completeness of this copy, with all illustrations present as called for. An early 1922 gift inscription to the front endpaper adds further period character. Combining Australian children's literature, natural history and fantasy, At The End Of The Moonpath is an appealing and increasingly uncommon example of locally produced juvenile literature from the early twentieth century."
No dustjacket. Light wear to the covers and spine. Lovely inscription from 1922. All 10 illustrations + frontis are present as called for. Pages clean and well presented. A nice 1st edition copy in good to very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
