Cirrus@Austlit

'This collection contains 61 essays, including Helen Garners "The Fate of the First Stone", Robert Dessaix's "Nice Work If You Can Get it" and pieces by Charmian Clift, Germaine Greer, Clive James, David Malouf, Les Murray and Patrick White.'(Publication summary)

'Since Henry Lawson wrote his story The Drover’s Wife in 1892, Australian writers, painters, performers, and photographers have created a wonderful tradition of Drover’s Wife works, stories, and images.

'The Russell Drysdale painting from 1945 has become an Australian icon.

'Other versions of the Lawson story have been written by Murray Bail, Frank Moorhouse, Barbara Jefferis, Mandy Sayer, David Ireland and others, up to the present including Ryan O’Neill’s graphic novel.

'Moorhouse has examined our ongoing fascination with this story, collected some of the best pieces of writing on the subject, adding commentary on each piece, and created a remarkable, gorgeous book.' (Publication Summary)