Physical description

A small tan rectangular book with the title printed in yellow at the top, an outline of a bunch of grapes and the editor's name below. There is a scroll style decorative edge around it. Inside the front cover is a dedication to two ladies who loved the history of the Yarra Valley as well as full publishing details. There is a Title page, Preface, Introduction, Foreword, Appendix, Acknowledgements and and Index. It tells the story of who 'The Vagabond' journalist was in his nomadic travels in the early settler days of the community. It has very informative stories and anecdotes, with black and white photographs. There is also a list of other titles by the same author inside the back cover. The back cover blurb states the contents of the book. Pp. 148

Publication type

non-fiction

Summary

"The Vagabond" was the pen name of 19th-century investigative journalist John Stanley James (born Julian Thomas), who chronicled the hidden and working-class lives of Victoria's society. His vivid, often undercover essays detailing his visits to the Yarra Valley between 1877 and 1894 provide an invaluable historical snapshot of the region's evolving landscape, rural industries, and itinerant communities.