Historical information

This book contains essays written by Walter Murdoch in 1935. Walter Logie Forbes Murdoch (1874-1970) had a distinguished academic career and became Australia’s best-known essayist. He was a household name to two generations of Australians through his radio broadcasts and syndicated literary columns in several Australian newspapers. In 1901 Walter Murdoch came to Warrnambool, going into partnership with James Scott, the Headmaster of Warrnambool College. They bought out Stanley’s Warrnambool Grammar School. When Scott retired Murdoch became the sole owner and Headmaster of the school. While in Warrnambool Murdoch wrote a textbook, ‘The Struggle for Freedom’, a book which covers English constitutional history and has chapters on Australian government at all levels including the new Federal Government. In 1904 Murdoch left Warrnambool to take up a position lecturing in English at Melbourne University. He went on to become the foundation Professor of English at the University of Western Australia and later its Chancellor. Murdoch University in Western Australia is named after him. Murdoch published over 40 books, one of which is the collection of essays called’ Moreover’. He was knighted in 1964.

Significance

This book is of interest as an example of the writings of Walter Murdoch, an important Australian literary figure who was a resident of warrnamboo and proprietor of a private school in the town in the early 1900s.

Physical description

This is a hard cover book of 252 pages. The cover is green with an image of a quill pen on the front cover. The book has a preface, a contents page, 33 essays by Walter Murdoch and an index. There are no photographs or illustrations to accompany the text.

Inscriptions & markings

Inside front page: A bookplate with the name ‘Dot’, a sketch of a Father Christmas and ‘25/12/35, Merry Xmas! Collin’.