person or book cover
Issue Details: First known date: 1909... 1909 The Rival Treasure Hunters : A Tale of the Debatable Frontier of British Guiana
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The hinterland of British New Guinea is the scene of Robert Macdonald's The Rival Treasure Hunters. The romantic element is supplied by a mysterious tribe, and a search for blue diamonds, but a full local knowledge adds weight to a rattling story.' Source: 'Christmas Books', The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 December 1909.

Notes

  • Terence and Francis O'Neill's Australian Children's Books to 1980 : A Select Bibliography of the Colllection Held in the National Library of Australia (1989): 113 comments: ' Three Australians play important roles in this story.'
  • Author's preface states: 'In this story I have endeavoured to give a fleeting glimpse of the lives of the dauntless pioneers who, in their search for treasure, roll back the mist clouds, which still hang heavily over the hinterlands of some of Britain's remote possessions. The quest of diamonds and other gems, gold, or the ores of commerce is their avowed object; but the fascination of the Unknown is the real reason of their wandering lives, and often, when material fortunes lie within their reach, they pass on. The love of untrammelled freedom and of true comradeship is stronger within them than the desire for mere wealth [...] Doc, the ever cool and resourceful; the gentle Parson of the strong arm; Kangaroo Dave, the softhearted, simple-minded, and courageous son of the great Austral Land; Boston Bob, the immaculate product of a famous American university; Big Tassy, the born wanderer; and most of the others were my comrades, and I am proud of them. They, with others not less well-known, still pursue the elusive quest of Eldorado throughout the earth and its surrounding waters, and if the fates are kind — will yet again be with them'.
  • Users are warned that this work contains terminology that reflects attitudes or language used at the time of publication that are considered inappropriate today.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Blackie ,
      1909 .
      Link: 8503409Full text document AustLit Full Text
      Extent: 382, [4]leaves of platesp.
      Description: illus.
      Note/s:
      • Digitised by AustLit, 2010, from the collection of the NLA.
    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Blackie ,
      1910 .
      person or book cover
      Extent: 382, [8]leaves of platesp.
      Description: illus.
    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Blackie ,
      1926 .
      Extent: 382, [6]leaves of platesp.
      Description: illus.

Works about this Work

Christmas Books 1909 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 18 December no. 22442 1909; (p. 6)

— Review of Saturday's Children : A Story of To-day Winifred James , 1910 single work children's fiction ; The Rival Treasure Hunters : A Tale of the Debatable Frontier of British Guiana Robert M. MacDonald , 1909 single work children's fiction ; The Hidden Nugget : A Story of the Australian Goldfields Alexander Macdonald , 1909 single work children's fiction ; Through the Heart of Tibet Alexander Macdonald , 1910 single work children's fiction
Christmas Books 1909 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 18 December no. 22442 1909; (p. 6)

— Review of Saturday's Children : A Story of To-day Winifred James , 1910 single work children's fiction ; The Rival Treasure Hunters : A Tale of the Debatable Frontier of British Guiana Robert M. MacDonald , 1909 single work children's fiction ; The Hidden Nugget : A Story of the Australian Goldfields Alexander Macdonald , 1909 single work children's fiction ; Through the Heart of Tibet Alexander Macdonald , 1910 single work children's fiction
Last amended 27 Apr 2015 14:03:51
Subjects:
  • South America, Americas,
Settings:
  • c
    Guyana,
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    South America, Americas,
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