Cirrus@Austlit

'Fred Williams kept a daily diary from 1963 until his death in 1982. Disciplined and meticulous, he recorded life in the studio, family life and his contact with artists, dealers and the art world-a page per day. At the beginning and end of each year, Williams would reflect on his progress, noting the ups and downs and plan for the coming year. The diaries contain studied reflections on his own art and offer an intimate picture of a major Australian artist at work. He maps out his work-small representations of what will become notable and important artworks-and makes comments about his contemporaries, with the occasional sharp judgement and snatch of art-world gossip, all notably without malice. The 1960s were crucial years for Williams. He moved from being a well-regarded painter to becoming a major Australian artist. Colour reproductions of his extraordinary paintings reveal their evolution and the struggles behind their making in his studio. The Diaries of Fred Williams is a generous and insightful glimpse into the private life and creative process of a giant of Australian landscape painting.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

‘A collection of objects, no matter how mundane, tells a story. They are like a little world; you can get lost in them.’ – John Bokor

'Still Life explores the diverse practices of more than forty contemporary Australian artists and documents a repertoire of styles, subjects, visions and philosophies. Alongside flowers and food – mainstays of the genre – the works within these pages also incorporate objects such as books and beer cans, birds and balloons, adding energy and intrigue to both the composition and the story revealed. This book captures the inanimate beauty of the everyday in a distinctly Australian context, and offers a meditation on human experience and the brevity of life.'

'In the Great War of 1914–1918, thousands of boys across Australia and New Zealand lied about their age, forged a parent’s signature and left to fight in a war on the other side of the world. Though some were as young as thirteen, they soon found they could die as well as any man. Like Peter Pan’s lost boys, they have remained forever young. These are their stories.

'This extraordinary book captures the incredible and previously untold stories of 40 Anzac boys who fought in the Great War, from Gallipoli to the Armistice. Featuring haunting images of the boys taken at training camps and behind the lines, these tales are both heartbreaking and rousing, full of daring, ingenuity, recklessness, random horror and capricious luck.

'A unique perspective on World War I, The Lost Boys is military history made deeply personal, a powerful homage to youthful bravery and a poignant reminder of the horror of war.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Tourism Australia statistics show that many overseas tourists, as well as Australians, are keen to learn more about Australia’s first peoples. And while the Indigenous tourism industry continues to grow, no comprehensive travel guide is currently available.

'Marcia Langton’s Welcome to Country is a completely new and inclusive guidebook to Indigenous Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. In its pages, respected elder and author Professor Marcia Langton answers questions such as what does ‘country' mean to Indigenous people. A detailed introduction covers such topics as Indigenous languages and customs, history, native title, art and dance, storytelling, and cultural awareness and etiquette for visitors. This is followed by a directory of Indigenous tourism experiences, organised into state and territory sections, covering galleries and festivals, communities that are open to visitors, tours and performances.

'This book is for everyone travelling around this fascinating country who wants to gain an insight into the culture that has thrived here for over 50,000 years, and enjoy tourism opportunities that will show you a different side of Australia — one that remains dynamic, and is filled with openness and diversity. This book will quickly become one of the most important travel guides to be published in recent times. '  (Publication summary)