Biography/ autobiography

The Hard Way [the Writing and Publication of Power Without Glory] – Frank Hardy.

This is the re-issue published by Rigby, Adelaide in 1976.

Octavo, 255 pages, original brown cloth covered boards, illustrations from relevant photographs. A near fine copy in a very good dust jacket which features a painting by fellow communist and artistic activist Noel Counihan.

This is Frank Hardy’s account of the writing and publishing of his classic novel the Power Without Glory. It was published original in 1961 by which time he had had nearly ten years to reflect on the goings on … including some time in the Courts.

Frank Hardy and the tale of the making of Power Without Glory

$35.00

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Two Letters of Norman Lindsay – Richard Pennigton Private Press – Signed Number 5 of a Limitation of 75 Copies

Extended title … Two Letters from Norman Lindsay to Francis and Betty Crossle here printed for Members of the Christopher Brennan Society.

Privately printed signed and numbered by Richard Pennington, limited to only 75 copies this number 5.

The letters, in the possession of Richard Pennington printed for the first time – he received the permission of Janet Glad, Norman Lindsay’s daughter.

Octavo, 24 pages, limitations page, bound in decorative string bound wrappers. Printed in Stephenson Blake’s Perpetua type on Barcham Green hand-made “Tovil’ paper by Richard Pennington at Presse de l’Abricotier Abatuu Blanzac France in September 1980.

Richard Pennington was born at Rugby, England but spent a large part of his adult working life in Australia. He was Librarian at the University of Queensland for eighteen years from 1946. He retired to France where he purchased a hand printing set-up and operated first in Normandy then later in Blanzac. Ten years before this work he was involved in the printing of a special memoir on the Australian poet Christopher Brennan. Lindsay did a portrait sketch of Brennan for the memoir .. so you can begin to understand the connection.

Pennington provides a lovely six page introduction. Pennington knew the recipients, who had introduced him to Brennan’s poetry. He describes the recipients interest in the arts and their rather metaphysical view of life and the world … something they had in common with Lindsay. Good content regarding their conversations about Lindsay and how Pennington came to receive the letters from Betty.

The letters are most interesting a particularly that to Francis which runs to over 1,200 words. Lindsay clearly respects Francis as a Doctor and close friend .. as a consequence the content is extremely personal .. allowing one to understand this genius of man better. Lindsay struggles with over-reaching in his work and finds that whenever he tries to control this “problem” he usually turns to some other form of “work’. In the evenings he listens to classical music but that does not help as it stimulates his mind into thinking of many new elements of work yet to be done. Many rather complex metaphysical views are shared which seem to stem from deeper anxieties. He references Newman’s book .. the best revelation of the critical mind that I have come across, but read it with considerable disgust also. Critic Newman’s book on criticism was published in 1925 .. so dates the letter better than Pennington’s suggestion of the year before [Pennington references the wrong book].

The letter to Betty is less wordy … just over 500 words … but perhaps more intimate. Lindsay obviously does not like Rousseau .. one of the most evil minds that ever appeared on earth in the disguise of a Good man. Lindsay adores Beethoven, Turner and Byron. He is close to finishing his novel Madame Life’s Lovers … which he will send shortly.

Special Very Limited Private Press Lindsay Item – with an interesting series of connections

$140.00

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The Cattle King [The Story of Sir Sydney Kidman] – Ion Idriess

Published in Sydney by Angus and Robertson in 1951.

Octavo, 277 pages, a very good copy in a very good dust jacket, small chip top edge, super clean inside.

The Biography of Sir Sidney Kidman who started with five shillings and eventually controlled over 100 cattle stations an area half the size of Queensland.

Well illustrated from period photographs and end paper maps showing the extent of the Kidman interests at the front and stations, stock routes, coach routes and railways referred to in the text … at the rear.

Good reading & photographs … a cattle empire much in the financial news of late.

$60.00

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Graham Greene Yours Etc – Letters to the Press 1945-1989 – Selected and Introduced Hawtree

First edition published by Reinhardt and Viking in 1989. Complements the lengthy biographies nicely. Octavo, 269 pages including useful index. A fine copy.

Evelyn Waugh advised Green on his election to the magnificent club that is “Whites” that “ It is a rule that letters to the newspapers may not be written on the club writing paper”. So Greene had already established his reputation in that regard.

One can only envy Greene’s wit, turn of phrase, pungency etc. The letters are more than that though; they often take you to the issues, personalities and goings on of 20th Century modern history. Sometimes he is just having a crack. Superbly entertaining and informative.

Greene never held back and delivered with dignity and wit

$50.00

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The World’s Wickedest Women – Andrew Ewart – First Edition 1964

Subtitled … “Intriguing Studies of Eve and Evil through the Ages” … written by a man.

First edition published by Odham’s, London in 1964. octavo, 288 pages in pretty good condition.

Starts with Sapho the Lesbian and Lecherous Layabouts of Ancient Rome and a new name for Cleopatra “Queen Harlot” .. so we get the tone. As the works becomes progressively more modern the work becomes more edgy and less theatrical and in the end is surprisingly enlightening although challenging.

Wicked Women not for the faint hearted

$40.00

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Wenworth, William Charles – Australia’s Greatest Native Son – Andrew Tink.

Some of Andrew Tink’s best work resides in this thorough biography of the man behind many things in the early history of New South Wales.

Published by Allen and Unwin in 2009. Large octavo, 329 pages, nicely illustrated from period images. A very good copy.

Wentworth, the son of a highway robber, arrived at a tender age in Sydney. Went on to run the newspaper, founder of the first University, cross the Blue Mountains with Blaxland and Lawson, the strongest advocate for self-government and amass a wealth not to be sniffed at.

Wentworth .. more than a hotel

$30.00

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The Hard Way [the Writing and Publication of Power Without Glory] – Frank Hardy.

Two Letters of Norman Lindsay – Richard Pennigton Private Press – Signed Number 5 of a Limitation of 75 Copies

The Cattle King [The Story of Sir Sydney Kidman] – Ion Idriess

Graham Greene Yours Etc – Letters to the Press 1945-1989 – Selected and Introduced Hawtree

The World’s Wickedest Women – Andrew Ewart – First Edition 1964

Wenworth, William Charles – Australia’s Greatest Native Son – Andrew Tink.

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