Historical information

This book has been written by Walter Murdoch, the distinguished Australian academic and essayist. Walter Murdoch (1874-1970) gained an Arts Degree at the University of Melbourne with first class honours in philosophy and logic. In 1901 Murdoch came to Warrnambool in partnership with James Scott as co-proprietors of the private school, Warrnambool College. They bought out the Warrnambool Grammar School previously run by John Stanley and, when Scott retired, Murdoch became the sole proprietor and headmaster of the school. While he was in Warrnambool Murdoch continued to write for Melbourne newspapers and published a book, ‘The Struggle For Freedom’, covering the constitutional history of Britain and Australia. This book sold 10,000 copies in its first year. In 1904 Murdoch left Warrnambool to take up a position as a lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne. Later he became 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 became a household name to two generations of Australians through his radio broadcasts and his literary columns in several Australian newspapers. He published over 40 books and was knighted in 1964.

Significance

This book is of interest as an example of the writings of Walter Murdoch, important not only in the history of Australian literature but also of note in the history of Warrnambool.

Physical description

This is a hard cover book of 195 pages. The cover is orange with red lettering and an image of a mountain (on an island?). The spine is a little faded. The book contains a Preface and 21 short essays containing thoughts concerning Australia in the early years of World War Two.