Showing 185 items matching "fiction - australian"
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Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Book - Non Fiction Australian Mammals, Furred Animals of Australia, 1946
... Book - Non Fiction Australian Mammals... of Australia Book - Non Fiction Australian Mammals Angus and Robertson ...This book was written before the "preservation of Australian Flora and Fauna" movement became a household edict. The book covers all the "known" marsupials of the time and coloured prints are provided where required to show physical and other distinguishing features. Time and extensive searches of hard to reach places in Australia has uncovered a greater range of marsupials than presented in this book. Rural Australia (1940s) had not been as developed and altered as the 1980s onward. This book was used in Primary schools as reference material. Although rural school children would have come across many "real life" encounters with some of the mammals referred to, the diversity and range of mammals presented in this book is quite extensive. Most "city" born children would have only seen the mammals presented in this book at animal zoos in the larger cities.This book details the Australian wide range of mammals, and not just those which school children in the Kiewa Valley could meet "face to face". However the rural based pupils would find the chapters and coloured prints more "real" than city located students because they are living day to day in the Australian bush, home to all the various mammals and marsupials presented in this book.This green coloured hard covered book has 178 double sided printed pages and twenty five plate detailing the appearances of native mammals. The first two pages are frayed and all pages show colouration (yellow) of age. The book has a clear plastic cover as protection placed at a later dateOn the spine "FURRED ANIMALS OF AUSTRALIA" and underneath "BROUGHTON" and at the bottom "ANGUS & ROBERTSON"australian mammals and marsupials, nature books, australia wild life -
Mont De Lancey
Book, Ethel Turner ( Mrs. H.R. Curlewis) et al, Mother's Little Girl, 1904
... australian fiction...-and-dandenong-ranges young people's fiction australian fiction family ...An Australian story of a family that has too many children and not enough money, so gave up for adoption their last baby, Sylvia to its aunt.Dark green fabric covered novel, Mother's Little Girl by Ethel Turner (Mrs H.R. Curlewis) and illustrated by A.J. Johnson, with gold lettering on front cover for title and author with a gold illustration of two children sitting on a bank. Spine has gold title and author and floral pattern. Has black and white illustrations throughout.fictionAn Australian story of a family that has too many children and not enough money, so gave up for adoption their last baby, Sylvia to its aunt. young people's fiction, australian fiction, family life -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book, Jimmy of Murrumbar, circa 1938
... young adult novel juvenile fiction australian black tracker law ...This novel, Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' by E.D. Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley 1877-1962), is a children’s adventure story about an Australian indigenous boy who was educated in a mission and worked as a 'black tracker’ for the police to hunt down criminals in the bush and mountain region of the Grampian Ranges of Victoria. Oakely's parents, Thomas and Eliza, had a farm in Warrnambool called 'Oakbank'. Oakley worked at various jobs in the local district and later had his own wheat farms. When he returned to Warrnambool to build commercial premises and work in the retail industry. His influence encouraged Fletcher Jones to open a shop in Warrnambool. His novel - Jimmy of 'Murrumbar' - was written after he retired. The copy of the book in our collection does not have a publication date. The National Library of Australia lists two editions of this book, one dated 1938, the other is undetermined. It was published as part of a series called the Marcie Muir Collection of Australian children's books. No reference has been found to the author or any further works by him/her. The novel was reprinted as a reproduction in 2017 as a paperback and a leather bound edition 'Classic Reprint' by Forgotten Books. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. This novel is historically significant for its story, representing the changes to Australian Indigenous culture and life after colonisation. The book appears to be that this is the only work written by E.D. Oakley. It is locally significant for being written by an early prominent Warrnambool family member. Jimmy of Murrumbar : A Story of the Amazing Ability and Fidelity of an Australian Black Tracker Author: E D Oakley (Edward Daniel Oakley) Publisher: Osboldstone & Co, Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia The label on the spine with typed text R.A. 823 OAK The front loose endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Children’s Library shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, warrnambool, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, jimmy of murrumbar, e d oakley, edward daniel oakley, novel, young adult novel, juvenile fiction, australian black tracker, law enforcement - police trackers, tracking and trailing in australia, australian bush, grampian ranges in victoria, warrnambool history, fletcher jones, oakbank, thomas and eliza oakley, indigenous literature, indigenous australians -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, McAulay, Lex, When the Buffalo Fight, 1987
... -1975 -- Fiction Australian Soldiers Jungles of Vietnam Viet ...The book captures the life and the mood of the troops better than anything else that has been written.The book captures the life and the mood of the troops better than anything else that has been written.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 -- fiction, australian soldiers, jungles of vietnam, viet cong -
Robin Boyd Foundation
Book, Hester Burton, Time of Trial, 1963
... Children's fiction Australian historical mystical ... melbourne Children's fiction Australian historical mystical Walsh St ...Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket + Plastic coverchildren's fiction australian historical mystical , walsh st library -
Robin Boyd Foundation
Book, Bill Scott, Darkness Under the Hills, 1980
... Children's fiction Australian... melbourne Children's fiction Australian Walsh St library Hardcover w ...Hardcover w/ Dust Jacketchildren's fiction australian, walsh st library -
Unions Ballarat
Australian roundup 1790-1950, Broderick, Colin, 1953
... Fiction - Australian... Broderick, was known for promoting Australian literature. Fiction ...A series of Australian short stories dating from 1790-1950.The editor, Colin Broderick, was known for promoting Australian literature. Fiction - of national interest. Hardcover, blue cloth paper amalgam; gold lettering on spine; 374 pages.Spine: title and author's name. Ararat Municipal Library stamp appears in several places on the inside of the book. Library loan slip and original card (2423) are located at the back. Last stamped on 20 Nov 1970.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, fiction - short stories, fiction - australian -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, Mansford, George, The Mad Galahs (Copy 2)
... Vietnam War 1961-1975 - Fiction Australian Infantry The Mad ...The Mad Galahs weaves historical fact into a stirring tale of Australian Infantrymen at war.The Mad Galahs weaves historical fact into a stirring tale of Australian Infantrymen at war.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - fiction, australian infantry -
Linton Mechanics Institute and Free Library Collection
Book - Novel, Nisbet, Hume, A bush girl's romance : with illustrations by the author, 1894
... Australian fiction... Australian fiction Romance Stamp indicating book was previously part ...312 p. : ill. Very faded cloth-bound cardboard cover, which once had illustration of a young woman riding a horse.fictionfiction, hume nisbet, australian fiction, romance -
Robin Boyd Foundation
Book, Patrick White, The Vivisector, 1970
... melbourne fiction novel australian literature Walsh St library ...Hardcover w/ Dust jacketfiction, novel, australian literature, walsh st library -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Jack Davis, Paperbark : a collection of Black Australian writings, 1990
... , fiction, australia, australian literature, aboriginal literature..., culture, literature, fiction, australia, australian literature ...stories, short stories, histories, culture, literature, fiction, australia, australian literature, aboriginal literature, aboriginal stories -
Robin Boyd Foundation
Book, Ed Kerrie E. Andrews, Australia The Beautiful: Great Gardens, 1983
... -aboriginal relations, Australian fiction... fiction Hardcover Australia The Beautiful: Great Gardens Book Ed ...HardcoverIndigenous colonial history, cattle station life, white-aboriginal relations, Australian fictiongardening, walsh st library -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Jack Bennett, Gallipoli, 1990
... australian fiction...-and-the-dandenong-ranges australian fiction world war 1914-1918 - gallipoli ...One fifth of the men engaged in the Gallipoli campaign were under the age of 21. This is the story of two of those boysp.280.fictionOne fifth of the men engaged in the Gallipoli campaign were under the age of 21. This is the story of two of those boysaustralian fiction, world war 1914-1918 - gallipoli campaign - fiction -
Robin Boyd Foundation
Book, Tom Ronan, Moleskin Midas, 1956
... Australian fiction...-aboriginal relations Australian fiction Walsh St library "Jack, I am ...Hardcover"Jack, I am sure you will enjoy this" inside front coverindigenous colonial history, cattle station life, white-aboriginal relations, australian fiction, walsh st library -
Mrs Aeneas Gunn Memorial Library
Book, Melville & Mullen, The white feather, 1917
... Australian fiction... Australian fiction Mrs MM Phillips No summary recorded p.322 ...No summary recordedp.322.fictionNo summary recordedaustralian fiction, mrs mm phillips -
Mont De Lancey
Book, Eileen Finlay et al, The Caravan Returns, Copyright 1949
... australian fiction... australian fiction A third in a series - Australian family religious ...A third in a series - Australian family religious saga about the le Maires and Macdonalds portraying both the elderly and modern young people with tenderness and sympathy.Fawn cloth hardcover religious family saga novel, The caravan Returns by Australian author Eileen Finlay. Has black writing of title, author and publisher on spine only.fictionA third in a series - Australian family religious saga about the le Maires and Macdonalds portraying both the elderly and modern young people with tenderness and sympathy.religious fiction, family stories, family saga, australian fiction -
Kilmore Historical Society
The Singing Gold, 1956
... australian fiction.... daylesford-and-the-macedon-ranges australian fiction. Nil. Blue cloth ...Blue cloth-bound hardcover book, worn at extremities & some loss of colour. Brightly coloured dust jacket torn at front & back. Previous hinge repair/reinforcement. Binding tight. Foxing to back & front pages. 319 pp. Good condition.Nil.australian fiction. -
Mont De Lancey
Book, The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd. Melb, 1923 Pals Annual for the Boys of Australasia, 1923
... australian fiction... australian fiction A large annual for Australasian Boys of Pals ...A large annual for Australasian Boys of Pals weekly magazines from Sat August 26 1922 to Sat April 14 1923 including a lengthy adventure story at the back - Wilson at the Wheel.A badly damaged red fabric hardcover book Pals Annual for the Boys of Australasia with a black, red and white lined illustration on the front cover in a large square of a cowboy cracking a whip on a farm. The covers are detached from the pages which are tanned, some torn and with foxing on the edges. There are a year's worth of magazines included date from Volume 1 No.1 Sat August 26 1922 to Volume 3 No. 34 Saturday April 14 1923. Price 3d. each. There are black and white illustrations throughout , and a coloured plate,. There is a coloured plate frontispiece as well as a green background lined illustration. At the end of the book is a lengthy story, Wilson's Wheel by Andrew Walpole. p. 817 - 854. There are missing pages 847 - 850. Total p. 854.fictionA large annual for Australasian Boys of Pals weekly magazines from Sat August 26 1922 to Sat April 14 1923 including a lengthy adventure story at the back - Wilson at the Wheel.children's magazines, boys annual, adventure stories, australian fiction -
The Celtic Club
Book, Alma Timms, A town rising, 1976
... Australian fiction..., South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australian fiction North Sydney ...A romantic novel based on the history of the North Shore of Sydney.ill, p.263.fictionA romantic novel based on the history of the North Shore of Sydney.australian fiction, north sydney - history -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, Frazer, Michael, Nasho (Copy 1)
... Vietnam War 1961-1975 - Fiction Michael Frazer Australian ...Basic training at Puckapunyal: Victimization. Bastardisation. He keeps a diary of the mishaps and misdeeds of an Army which loathes its men.fictionBasic training at Puckapunyal: Victimization. Bastardisation. He keeps a diary of the mishaps and misdeeds of an Army which loathes its men.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - fiction, michael frazer, australian national serviceman -
Returned Nurses RSL Sub-branch
Newspaper - Newspaper clipping, Melanie Oppenheimer, Opinion : Let's remember the bravery of thousands of Australian Nurses, Tuesday, April 24, 2007
... -fiction book about a Australia WWI nurse titled 'Oceans of Love...-fiction book about a Australia WWI nurse titled 'Oceans of Love ...Opinion article questioning why Australian war nurses do not receive state funerals like soldiers who served do. Author of article and historian Melanie Oppenheimerhas has written a non-fiction book about a Australia WWI nurse titled 'Oceans of Love, Narrelle'. Photograph with article is of Vivian Bullwinkel.Newspaper clipping with a black and white photograph on the right of a smiling woman in military nurses uniform. Article has seven columns of text.war nurses, funerals, state funerals, melanie oppenheimer, vivian bullwinkel, vivian statham -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, The dissident guru, 2004
... of 12 non-fiction books published in Australia, India, England...-fiction books published in Australia, India, England and the U.S.A ...The author of this book, Allan Scarfe, was a Warrnambool resident. He was a graduate of the University of Melbourne. He taught in India, England and Australia (including several years at Warrnambool High School) and was the joint author with his wife Wendy of 12 non-fiction books published in Australia, India, England and the U.S.A. He and Wendy were twice awarded Australia Council Literature Board grants. The Dissident Guru was one of several crime and adventure novels written by Allan Scarfe. This book is one of many books written or co-written by Allan Scarfe, a resident of Warrnambool for many years and one well-known for his literary output. He died in 2016. This is a soft cover book of 328 pages. It was written by Allan Scarfe. The cover is black, grey and white and the lettering is white on the front cover and black on the spine. The front cover has an illustration of masked figures and a body and the back cover has excerpts from critics’ remarks about other Scarfe books. allan scarfe -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Photographs x 2 - Afternoon tea visit to Towong Hill
Towong Hill Homestead is a 110-year-old Federation style mansion situated on a rock outcrop, with views of about 260 degrees. It was built over 2 years by grazier Walter Mitchell from bricks made from local clay dug from the river bank, to be the family home for his new bride Winifred. They established their home in 1904. After the death of Walter in 1917, Winifred relocated her family, but the homestead remained in the families hands. In 1935, Thomas Mitchell (1906-1984) returned home to Australia, a successful Lawyer, and married city girl, Elyne Chauvel, and settled himself back at his childhood home, Towong Hill. Thomas was a world champion slalom skier, had been a prisoner of the Japanese at Changi, and was elected for the Country Party in 1946 and served as attorney-general in the McDonald government. His wife Elayne (1913-2002) is best remembered for her Silver Brumby series of novels for children. But Elyne also wrote a substantial number of non-fiction works about the Snowy Mountains. Photographs demonstrate local Kiewa Valley residents enjoying a community visit to the historic homestead at Towong Hill which holds significance to the early history of the area. Also demonstrates a pictorial history of social activities undertaken during this period2 black and white photographs mounted on buff card. Kiewa Valley residents attending afternoon tea at Towong HillHandwritten in black pen underneath photo - T.W.Mitchell Towong Hill. Afternoon Teat w mitchell, towong hill, kiewa valley -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Film - Video (Digital), Charles Tait, The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), 1906 / 2006
In 1906, Australia produced The Story of the Kelly Gang, claimed to be the world’s first commercial feature-length fiction film. Shot on location outside Melbourne, the film traces the life of the legendary Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly. The 1906 film is believed to have been about one hour in length. Only fragments, approximately 15 minutes survive, the majority of the cellulose nitrate film stock degrading. In 2006 with meticulous restoration work by the National Film & Sound Archive, nearly a quarter of the film was pieced together and digitally restored by Haghefilm preservation laboratories in Amsterdam. The film's narrative has been reconstructed based on the original footage and intertitles. Additional titles (based on text from original program booklet) and associated material has been inserted to provide a more complete sense of the original production. The film is of particular interest to the Society as it is alleged that some scenes were filmed in and around the Eltham district though not yet identified or confirmed.Digital file only MP4 00:31:52; 233MB (Reference only - not for public access)the story of the kelly gang, ned kelly, national fim & sound archive, charles tait, eltham -
Marysville & District Historical Society
Book, Nevil Shute, On The Beach, 1958
After World War III, Australia is the only remaining haven for mankind. However, wind currents carrying lingering radiation all but condemn those on the continent to the same fate suffered by the rest of the world. When the survivors receive a strange signal from San Diego, Cmdr. Dwight Towers must undertake a mission with Lt. Peter Holmes to see if there is hope for humanity -- leaving behind Moira and Mary, the women they love.Dust cover is a painted illustration of the characters from the book.fictionAfter World War III, Australia is the only remaining haven for mankind. However, wind currents carrying lingering radiation all but condemn those on the continent to the same fate suffered by the rest of the world. When the survivors receive a strange signal from San Diego, Cmdr. Dwight Towers must undertake a mission with Lt. Peter Holmes to see if there is hope for humanity -- leaving behind Moira and Mary, the women they love.science fiction, end of the world, australia -
Marysville & District Historical Society
Book, Marion Miller Knowles, Meg of Minadong, 1926
... knowles australia fiction An Australian children's story set ...An Australian children's story set in colonial times.Red cover. Title and author are in black lettering on front cover and spine of book.fictionAn Australian children's story set in colonial times.minagong, marion miller knowles, australia, fiction -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book, Alice Mills, Stuckness in the Fiction of Mervyn Peake by Alice Mills, 2005
An analysis of the works of Mervyn PeakeBlack cover with red image and white and orange writing.non-fictionAn analysis of the works of Mervyn Peake alice mills, university of ballarat, alumni, lecturer, staff author, stuckness in the fiction of mervyn peake, federation university staff author -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - GALLIPOLI BOOK, Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd, Gallipoli. My Australian Story, This edition 2017
Juvenile fiction, diary of a 14 year old soldier to land at ANZAC Cove 25th April 1915. The book is dedicated to the Fighting 10th/1st AIF, 3rd brigade and Clifford Claudias Schroder 1st Div Signal Company.Book, soft cover cardboard, dark green and black print on front, spine and back covers, front cover illustrated B & W photograph of “Troops landing at Gallipoli Cove Gallipoli 1915”, back cover has small black silhouette of a slouch hat.books military, history, juvenile fiction, ww! -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOK, FICTION, Richard Beilby, Gunner, 1990
Gunner by Richard Beilby first published in 1977. From back cover: Gunner is a war story that looks beneath the surface of violence and hatred, and brilliantly depicts the effect that fighting has on human relationships.Soft cardboard cover, yellow / black / white print on front, spine & back. Gold background, coloured painting illustration of 3 military personnel with buildings in the background. 377 pages, cut, plain, off white, no illustrations. Large print volume. Fiction? / biography with the exception of Gunner Lewis all the characters in this novel are fictitious.Blue marks on top R title page: “$1”books- military history, gunner, fiction -
J. Ward Museum Complex
Book, Under Padlock and Seal 1905
A classic detective story. Harold Avery was born in 1869. His life reads like one of his own adventure stories. He was shipwrecked off the coast of Malaysia at the age of ten on his way to Australia with his parents who were drowned. Avery was brought up by the natives who, after three years put him on a Dutch boat bound back to England. He was brought up by an aunt who sent him to Eton and then settled with him in Edinburgh. Avery took a job in the city’s Water Department and in 1894 wrote his first book The Orderly Officer. In the next 45 years he wrote over fifty more books, mainly school stories and adventure stories. In 1941 he left Scotland to travel round the world and the last that was heard from him was a postcard sent to his aunt from Rio de Janeiro in 1943. It is chosen from his large output as being a typical school story but, it can be argued, it is the precursor of work by Enid Blyton and J K Rowling, dealing with school life, five children who go on an adventure and a mystical wizard who ends the story not with a wave of a wand but with kindness and consideration.fictionA classic detective story. Harold Avery was born in 1869. His life reads like one of his own adventure stories. He was shipwrecked off the coast of Malaysia at the age of ten on his way to Australia with his parents who were drowned. Avery was brought up by the natives who, after three years put him on a Dutch boat bound back to England. He was brought up by an aunt who sent him to Eton and then settled with him in Edinburgh. Avery took a job in the city’s Water Department and in 1894 wrote his first book The Orderly Officer. In the next 45 years he wrote over fifty more books, mainly school stories and adventure stories. In 1941 he left Scotland to travel round the world and the last that was heard from him was a postcard sent to his aunt from Rio de Janeiro in 1943. It is chosen from his large output as being a typical school story but, it can be argued, it is the precursor of work by Enid Blyton and J K Rowling, dealing with school life, five children who go on an adventure and a mystical wizard who ends the story not with a wave of a wand but with kindness and consideration.#detectivestory, fiction, adventurebook, boysownadventure