Issue Details: First known date: 1936... 1936 The Foundations of Culture in Australia : An Essay Towards National Self-respect
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Notes

  • Dedication: Dedicated to Winifred
  • Epigraph: Each, desperate, his sword against the world, A blow for his diverse illusion tries. The truth man leaps to when the banner's furled, And man confronts his bosom, makes him wise. - Sonnets of Baylebridge
  • Author's Foreword: This essay was written in three instalments: the first in June 1935, the second in July 1935, and the third in January 1936. It was originally intended for serial publication, and the first instalment was so published, in 'The Australian Mercury' (July 1935). The second and third instalments are now printed for the first time, 'The Australian Mercury' having suspended publication because no philanthropist could be found to nurse it financially....P.R.S. Sydney. February, 1936.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Gordon, Chatswood - Gordon - Castlecrag area, Sydney Northern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: W. J. Miles , 1936 .
      Printed by Forward Press
      Extent: 192p.
      Note/s:
      • Craig Munro (164-166) records that W. J. Miles paid Stephensen ten pounds to help complete the final instalment of the work. By the end of January 1936 he had also paid the Communist party printery, Forward Press, a deposit for the publication in book form of The Foundations of Culture in Australia. Two thousand copies of the book were printed with yellow paper covers in February 1936. Miles agreed to pay royalties of tenpence a copy, representing about 40% of the retail price of two shillings. Stephensen received more than sixty pounds in the first two months of sales. (Craig Munro Wild Man of Letters: the Story of P. R. Stephensen (1984)).
    • North Sydney, North Sydney - Lane Cove area, Sydney Northern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: Allen and Unwin , 1986 .
      Extent: xxvii, 192p.p.
      Description: illus., facsim.ports.
      Note/s:
      • A new introduction by Craig Munro.
      ISBN: 0049090291

Works about this Work

Nation and Environment in the Twentieth Century Novel Tony Hughes-d'Aeth , 2023 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Cambridge History of the Australian Novel 2023;
P. R. Stephens and 'The Foundations of Culture' in Australia Wang Labao , 2016 single work criticism
— Appears in: A History of Australian Literary Criticism 2016; (p. 32-54)
P. R. 'Inky' Stephensen's The Foundations of Culture in Australia Craig Munro , 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Found in Fryer : Stories from the Fryer Library Collection 2010; (p. 108-19)
Telling the Nation Paul Gillen , 2002 single work criticism
— Appears in: Cultural Studies Review , November vol. 8 no. 2 2002; (p. 157-178)
'..identifying, seeking out and evaluating the distinguishing features of Australian culture or Australian people remains a popular activity. This essay discusses some recent books that do so, focusing on their underlying assumptions and motivations, and attempting to put them into historical perspective.' (p.157)
Shaky Foundations Stephen Cowden , 2000 single work criticism
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 14 no. 1 2000; (p. 65-66)
New Australian Books Frederick T. Macartney , 1936 single work review
— Appears in: All About Books , 12 May vol. 8 no. 5 1936; (p. 70)

— Review of The Foundations of Culture in Australia : An Essay Towards National Self-respect P. R. Stephensen , 1936 single work criticism ; The Cattle King : The Story of Sir Sidney Kidman Ion L. Idriess , 1936 single work biography
Australian Literature Society [Meeting Report] F. G. G. Hynes , 1936 single work review
— Appears in: All About Books , 13 July vol. 8 no. 7 1936; (p. 111-112)

— Review of Central Australia C. T. Madigan , 1936 single work prose ; Maidens Beware : A Novel Mary Mitchell , 1936 single work novel ; Return to Coolami Eleanor Dark , 1936 single work novel ; The Foundations of Culture in Australia : An Essay Towards National Self-respect P. R. Stephensen , 1936 single work criticism ; She Travelled Alone in Spain Nina Murdoch , 1935 single work prose ; The Devil's First : A Novel Edouard A. Aujard , 1932 single work novel
The programme for the June meeting comprised six reviews of recent Australian books.
Untitled Edward Masey , 1936 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Quarterly , vol. 8 no. 1 1936; (p. 106-109)

— Review of The Foundations of Culture in Australia : An Essay Towards National Self-respect P. R. Stephensen , 1936 single work criticism
Untitled H. G. Secombe , 1936 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Rhodes Review , no. 2 1936; (p. 115-118)

— Review of The Foundations of Culture in Australia : An Essay Towards National Self-respect P. R. Stephensen , 1936 single work criticism
The Taint of Fanaticism David Dolan , 1986 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 20 December 1986; (p. B3)

— Review of The Foundations of Culture in Australia : An Essay Towards National Self-respect P. R. Stephensen , 1936 single work criticism
Telling the Nation Paul Gillen , 2002 single work criticism
— Appears in: Cultural Studies Review , November vol. 8 no. 2 2002; (p. 157-178)
'..identifying, seeking out and evaluating the distinguishing features of Australian culture or Australian people remains a popular activity. This essay discusses some recent books that do so, focusing on their underlying assumptions and motivations, and attempting to put them into historical perspective.' (p.157)
Furphy 1 : John Le Gay Brereton, the University, and Australian Literature Lesley Heath , 1993 single work criticism
— Appears in: Notes & Furphies , October no. 31 1993; (p. 3-7)
The Foundations of Culture in Australia Australian Literature Society [Meeting Report] F. G. G. Hynes , 1936 single work criticism
— Appears in: All About Books , 12 October vol. 8 no. 10 1936; (p. 165-167)
Extensive report of the 21 September meeting taken up entirely by a discussion, lead by Wilmot, of Stephensen's essay.
P. R. 'Inky' Stephensen's The Foundations of Culture in Australia Craig Munro , 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Found in Fryer : Stories from the Fryer Library Collection 2010; (p. 108-19)
y separately published work icon Australian Little Magazines 1923-1954 : Their Role in Forming and Reflecting Literary Trends John Tregenza , Adelaide : Libraries Board of South Australia , 1964 Z140675 1964 single work criticism
Last amended 2 Dec 2008 15:24:32
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