y separately published work icon Victorian Readers : Fifth Book anthology   poetry   prose  
Issue Details: First known date: 1930... 1930 Victorian Readers : Fifth Book
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Notes

  • Epigraph:
    Truth embodied in a tale
    Shall enter in at lowly doors. Tennyson

  • Frontispiece: 'A Bush Fire (Gippsland, Sunday night, February 20th, 1808)', from a painting in the Melbourne National Gallery, by Sir John Longstaff (q.v.).
  • Opposite page 1: Photograph: 'Patriotism', from a model of one of four symbolic statuary groups designed by Paul Montford for the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne.
  • Illustrations by Allan T. Bernaldo, Marjorie Howden, John Rowell, W.S. Wemyss (qq.v.), R.C. Fricke, and Mervyn H. Timmings.

Contents

* Contents derived from the Melbourne, Victoria,:Victoria Education Department , 1930 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Pioneersi"We are the old-world people,", Frank Hudson , single work poetry (p. 1-2)
An Adventure with the Blacks, Samuel Carter , extract autobiography prose (p. 2-6)
Flindersi"He left his island home", J. B. O'Hara , single work poetry (p. 6-8)
Note: Illustration: 'A Hundred Years Ago', sketch of Flinders by W. S. Wemyss (q.v.).
At the Flooded Creek, Conrad H. Sayce , extract children's fiction children's (p. 9-19)
Note: Illustrations by Allan T. Bernaldo (q.v.).
The Ballad of the Droveri"Across the stony ridges, across the rolling plain,", Henry Lawson , single work poetry (p. 19-23)
Note: Illustrations by Allan T. Bernaldo (q.v.).
The Drover's Wife, Henry Lawson , single work short story

First appearing in The Bulletin in 1892, Henry Lawson's short story 'The Drovers Wife' is today regarded as a seminal work in the Australian literary tradition. Noted for it's depiction of the bush as harsh, potentially threatening and both isolated and isolating, the story opens with a simple enough premise: an aggressive--and presumably deadly--snake disrupts the working life of a bushwoman and her young children. Brave but cautious, the woman resolves to protect her children since her husband is, characteristically, away from home and of no help. 

As time passes within the story, tension builds, and the snake's symbolic threat takes on layers of meaning as the sleepless heroine recalls previous challenges she faced while her husband was away. A series of flashbacks and recollections propel the story through the single night over which it takes place, and by the time the climax arrives--the confrontation with the snake--readers have learned much about the heroine's strengths and fears, most of the latter involving the loss of children and dark figures who encroach upon her small, vulnerable homestead. To be sure, this "darkness" is highly symbolic, and Lawson's use of imagery invokes Western notions of good and evil as well as gendered and racial stereotypes. 

(p. 24-29)
Note: Epigraph: "On the frontiers of the nation live the women of the west" (George Essex Evans, q.v.).
The Old Australian Waysi"The London lights are far abeam", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry (p. 30-32)
An Adventure with a Snake, Conrad H. Sayce , extract children's fiction children's adventure (p. 32-35)
Granny Sullivan Old Granny Sullivani"A pleasant shady place it is, a pleasant place and cool -", John Shaw Neilson , single work poetry (p. 35-39)
Note: Illustrations by W. S. Wemyss (q.v.).
The Old Bush School, Mary E. Fullerton , extract autobiography (p. 40-43)
The Fire at Ross's Farmi"The squatter saw his pastures wide", Henry Lawson , single work poetry (p. 44-48)
Note: Illustrations by Allan T. Bernaldo (q.v.).
An Australian Scene, Henry Kingsley , extract novel (p. 49)
Note: Epigraph: Extract from the poem 'Wattle and Myrtle' by J. L. Cuthbertson (q.v.).
Laughing Maryi"With cheeks that paled the rosy morn", 'John O'Brien' , single work poetry children's (p. 50-51)
Walking Outi"I never take my hat and swing", Myra Morris , single work poetry children's (p. 58-60)
Note: Illustration by W. S. Wemyss (q.v.).
The Champion, Ethel Turner , extract children's fiction children's (p. 60-63)
Romancei"When I was but thirteen or so", W. J. Turner , single work poetry (p. 66)
The Youngster, C. E. W. Bean , single work prose travel (p. 67-70)
Note: Illustrations by Allan T. Bernaldo (q.v.).
Fairy-Talesi"I chanced on an old brown book to-day,", Will H. Ogilvie , single work poetry (p. 76-77)
Note: Illustrated.
A Rescue, Mary Grant Bruce , single work extract children's fiction children's (p. 78-83)
Note: Illustrations by Allan T. Bernaldo (q.v.).
The Hero of the Flooded Mine, single work prose children's (p. 129-134)
Note: Illustrations: 'The Diver to the Rescue', and 'Diver Hughes reaches the Italian' by Allan T. Bernaldo (q.v.).
* Contents derived from the Melbourne, Victoria,:Victoria Education Department , 1940 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Pioneersi"We are the old-world people,", Frank Hudson , single work poetry (p. 1-2)
An Adventure with the Blacks, Samuel Carter , extract autobiography prose (p. 2-6)
At the Flooded Creek, Conrad H. Sayce , extract children's fiction children's (p. 7-17)
Note: Illustrations by Allan T. Bernaldo (q.v.).
The Ballad of the Droveri"Across the stony ridges, across the rolling plain,", Henry Lawson , single work poetry (p. 17-21)
The Drover's Wife, Henry Lawson , single work short story

First appearing in The Bulletin in 1892, Henry Lawson's short story 'The Drovers Wife' is today regarded as a seminal work in the Australian literary tradition. Noted for it's depiction of the bush as harsh, potentially threatening and both isolated and isolating, the story opens with a simple enough premise: an aggressive--and presumably deadly--snake disrupts the working life of a bushwoman and her young children. Brave but cautious, the woman resolves to protect her children since her husband is, characteristically, away from home and of no help. 

As time passes within the story, tension builds, and the snake's symbolic threat takes on layers of meaning as the sleepless heroine recalls previous challenges she faced while her husband was away. A series of flashbacks and recollections propel the story through the single night over which it takes place, and by the time the climax arrives--the confrontation with the snake--readers have learned much about the heroine's strengths and fears, most of the latter involving the loss of children and dark figures who encroach upon her small, vulnerable homestead. To be sure, this "darkness" is highly symbolic, and Lawson's use of imagery invokes Western notions of good and evil as well as gendered and racial stereotypes. 

(p. 22-27)
Note: Epigraph: "On the frontiers of the nation live the women of the west" (George Essex Evans, q.v.).
Witch's Songi""Hoity-toity! Hop-o'-my thumb!", Ruth M. Bedford , single work poetry (p. 28-29)
An Adventure with a Snake, Conrad H. Sayce , extract children's fiction children's adventure (p. 29-32)
Granny Sullivan Old Granny Sullivani"A pleasant shady place it is, a pleasant place and cool -", John Shaw Neilson , single work poetry (p. 32-36)
The Fire at Ross's Farmi"The squatter saw his pastures wide", Henry Lawson , single work poetry (p. 41-45)
The King of the Winds, Mervyn Skipper , single work children's fiction children's
The animals wish to stop the White Man from clearing the jungle, and they gather at the meeting-pool to decide what to do. The flying fox suggests that they should use softness instead of force, and tells the story of the King of the Winds. (From the Victorian Readers : Fifth Book.)
(p. 46-48)
Laughing Maryi"With cheeks that paled the rosy morn", 'John O'Brien' , single work poetry children's (p. 49-50)
Walking Outi"I never take my hat and swing", Myra Morris , single work poetry children's (p. 55-56)
The Champion, Ethel Turner , extract children's fiction children's (p. 56-61)
The Youngster, C. E. W. Bean , single work prose travel (p. 64-67)
Magici"Crawling up the hillside,", Dorothea Mackellar , single work poetry (p. 68-69)
A Rescue, Mary Grant Bruce , single work extract children's fiction children's (p. 76-81)
The Hero of the Flooded Mine, single work prose children's (p. 101-105)
Wheati"From the farm and from the homestead, from every Mallee town,", Capel Boake , single work poetry (p. 151)
Pincher, single work children's fiction children's (p. 157-162)
Learning to Ride, Edward S. Sorenson , single work children's fiction children's (p. 164-168)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Melbourne, Victoria,: Victoria Education Department , 1930 .
      Printed by H. J. Green
      Extent: 216p.
      Edition info: First edition.
      Description: illus. (b & w)
      Note/s:
      • Only literary material by Australian authors individually indexed in contents list below.

        Other material in this reader includes:

      • Fiction: 'Whitewashing the Fence', extract from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by American author Mark Twain, 51-57; 'The Little Pagan Faun' (unattributed), from London Punch, 71-76; Giotto, the Shepherd Boy' (unattributed), 85-86; 'The Story of a Dervish' (unattributed) 89-90; 'The Burning of the Rice-Field', adapted from a story by Lafcadio Hearn, 91-93; 'King Kaid of India', from My Magazine, 100-104; 'The Lawyer and the Oyster' (unattributed) 107; 'Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday', extract from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe,108-113; 'How Aunt Letty Killed the Panther' (unattributed) 116-120; 'The Children Who Saved Hamburg' (unattributed), from The Folks at Home, 122-123; 'The Boer and His Horse' by American author Elihu Burritt (1810-1879) 125-127; 'I Have a Right' by English writer Jean Ingelow (q.v.) 135-140; 'The Dragon Fly', extract from The Water Babies, by English author Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), prefaced by an extract from 'The Two Voices' a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 142-145; 'The Blackbird: A Legend' (unattributed), from My Beautiful Book of Legends, 160-162; 'The Wee Fell Yin' by Scottish author George Macdonald (1824-1905) 175-179; 'How the Crickets Brought Good Fortune', from the French of P.J. Stahl (1814-1886) 185-189.

      • Poetry: ''Tis This to Teach' by A. F. Harman, from Child Education, [iv]; 'Queen Mab' by William Shakespeare, 71; 'Romance' by Gabriel Setoun, a pseudonym of Scottish writer Thomas Nicoll Hepburn, 84; ' Tubal Cain' by Scottish poet Charles Mackay (q.v.) 87-88; 'The Destruction of Sennacherib's Army' by George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824) 90-91; 'William Tell' by Rev. J. H. Gurney, illustrations by W. S. Wemyss (q.v.) 93-99; 'Bruce and the Spider' by English poet Eliza Cook (1818-1889) 104-106; 'Allen-a-Dale' by Sir Walter Scott (q.v.) 107-108; 'The Miller of the Dee' by Charles Mackay (q.v.), illustration by W. S. Wemyss (q.v.) 114-116; 'The Inchcape Rock' by English poet Robert Southey (q.v.) 120-121; 'The Burial of Sir John Moore at Corunna' by Irish author Charles Wolfe (1791-1823) 124-125; 'Florence Nightingale' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (q.v.) 128-129; 'The Ship on Fire' by Charles Mackay (q.v.) 134-135; 'The Wind in a Frolic' by William Howitt (q.v.) 140-142; 'The Brook' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, illustrations: 'The Brook', and 'Men may come and men may go' by W. S. Wemyss (q.v.) 145-149; 'The West Wind' by English poet John Masefield (q.v.) 153-154; 'My Heart's in the Highlands' by Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796), illustration: 'My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer' by W. S. Wemyss (q.v.) 162-163; 'To Blossoms' by English poet Robert Herrick (q.v.) 179;

      • Prose: 'Springtime in the Mallee' by Irene M. Lanfranchi, 183-185

      • Drama: 'David Visits His Aunt', dramatized from David Copperfield, a novel by English author Charles Dickens (1812-1870) 189-191.

      Series: y separately published work icon Victorian Readers The Victorian Reading-Books Charles R. Long (editor), Victorian Department of Education (publisher), Melbourne : Victorian Department of Education , 1928-1930 Z1417172 1928-1930 series - publisher anthology

      Preface to Victorian Readers: Eighth Book (1929):

      As the need for a Primer and First Book of modern type and for the provision of more space in The School Paper for articles of current interest had been felt for some time, it was decided last year [1927] to proceed with the preparation of a series of reading books (eight in number) to be published by the Government Printer. The selection of matter and the obtaining of drawings from local artists to illustrate it were entrusted to committees of inspectors and teachers, with Mr. J. C. Lowry, B.A. (a senior inspector of schools), as chairman, and Mr. C. R. Long, M.A., as editor.

      This book - the most advanced of the projected series - is the first to be issued. The main aim of the committee that made the selections for it was to obtain such as possessed literary merit, were informative, were likely to arouse interest, and were suitable as regards the average standard of attainment of the grade or forms for which the book was intended. The young readers were to begin at home, to be taken in imagination to various parts of the Empire, to Europe, and to the United States of America, and thus to gain knowledge of their rich heritage and acquire a well-founded pride of race. The inculcation of sound morality was always to be kept in view, and support given to the creation of a feeling against international strife and to the implanting of a desire for world-wide toleration. The grouping of the selections (story, essay, poem etc.) in order to secure continuity of thought - one selection serving to reveal and support another - was to be aimed at throughout, so that the contents of the book might not be a mere collection of unrelated items, but approach as nearly as possible to a unity.

      The committee was of the opinion that notes and explanations to aid in the securing of intelligent reading would be advantageous, but that they should not be unduly elaborate or very numerous, and that they should form a section at the end of the book. It is hoped that those which have been provided will not only prove helpful in themselves, but will also suggest interesting lines of study (critical, etymological, biographical, historical, geographical, etc) that may be followed up to advantage by some of the young readers, if not by all.

      Though it was recognized that the local production of a series of reading-books to compare favourably with those issued by leading British publishers would not be easy of accomplishment, yet it was believed that the effect of the use of such a series in the schools and in the pupils' homes would make the effort well worth while.

      Number in series: 5
    • Melbourne, Victoria,: Victoria Education Department , 1940 .
      Printed by W. M. Houston
      Extent: 216p.
      Edition info: Second edition.
      Description: illus. (b & w)
      Note/s:
      • Only literary material by Australian authors individually indexed in contents list below.

        Other material in this reader includes:

      • Fiction: 'Penn and the Kindergarten' from Penn and the Penguin by Allen Chaffee, 37-40; 'The Race For the Silver Skates' from Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge, 50-53; 'The Little Pagan Faun' from London Punch, 69-74; Giotto, the Shepherd Boy' (unattributed), 83-84; 'The Burning of the Rice Field', adapted from a story by Lafcadio Hearn, 87-89; 'King Kaid of India' (unattributed) from My Magazine, 96-100; 'The Dragon-Fly', from The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley, 108-110; 'The Children Who Saved Hamburg', from The Folks at Home, 113-114; 'The Boer and His Horse' by Elihu Burritt, 116-118; 'The Lawyer and the Oyster' (unattributed) 121; 'Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday', from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, 122-127; 'How Aunt Letty Killed the Panther' (unattributed) 130-133; 'An Adventure With Wolves', from Beric the Briton by G. A. Henty (q.v.) 138-144; 'Uncle Jim's Queer Story', 147-150; 'The Blackbird: A Legend' from My Book of Beautiful Legends, 152-153; 'The Enchanted Shirt' by Colonel John Hay, 154-156; 'The Wee Fell Yin' (unattributed) 169-173; 'Echo and Narcissus' (unattributed) 174-175; 'Heidi on the Mountain' by Johanna Spyri, 178-182; 'How the Crickets Brought Good Fortune', from the French of P.J. Stahl, 185-188.

      • Poetry: 'Wood' by Edna Jaques, 6; 'The Jumblies' by Edward Lear (q.v.) 62-63; 'The Plaint of the Camel' by Charles Edward Carbyl, 74-75; 'Romance' by Gabriel Setoun, 82; 'Tubal Cain' by Charles Mackay (q.v.) 85-86; 'William Tell' by Rev. J.H. Gurney (q.v.) 89-95; 'Rain' by Robert Loveman, 100; 'The Miller of the Dee' by Charles Mackay (q.v.) 106-107; 'The Dragon-Fly' by Tennyson (q.v.) 108; 'The Inchcape Rock' by Robert Southey (q.v.) 111-112; 'Allen-a-Dale' Sir Walter Scott (q.v.) 115-116; 'Bruce and the Spider' by Eliza Cook (q.v.) 119-121; 'The Wind in a Frolic' by William Howitt (q.v.) 128-129; 'The Brook' by Lord Tennyson (q.v.) 134-146; 'Hiawatha's Childhood', from The Song of Hiawatha by Henry W. Longfellow (q.v.) 145-146; 'My Heart's in the Highlands' by Robert Burns (q.v.) 162; 'The West Wind' by John Masefield 183-184; 'Silver' by Walter de la Mare (q.v.) 184; 'The Night Wind' by Eugene Field, 191-192.

      • Drama: 'David Visits His Aunt', dramatized from David Copperfield, a novel by Charles Dickens 189-190.

      Series: y separately published work icon Victorian Readers The Victorian Reading-Books Charles R. Long (editor), Victorian Department of Education (publisher), Melbourne : Victorian Department of Education , 1928-1930 Z1417172 1928-1930 series - publisher anthology

      Preface to Victorian Readers: Eighth Book (1929):

      As the need for a Primer and First Book of modern type and for the provision of more space in The School Paper for articles of current interest had been felt for some time, it was decided last year [1927] to proceed with the preparation of a series of reading books (eight in number) to be published by the Government Printer. The selection of matter and the obtaining of drawings from local artists to illustrate it were entrusted to committees of inspectors and teachers, with Mr. J. C. Lowry, B.A. (a senior inspector of schools), as chairman, and Mr. C. R. Long, M.A., as editor.

      This book - the most advanced of the projected series - is the first to be issued. The main aim of the committee that made the selections for it was to obtain such as possessed literary merit, were informative, were likely to arouse interest, and were suitable as regards the average standard of attainment of the grade or forms for which the book was intended. The young readers were to begin at home, to be taken in imagination to various parts of the Empire, to Europe, and to the United States of America, and thus to gain knowledge of their rich heritage and acquire a well-founded pride of race. The inculcation of sound morality was always to be kept in view, and support given to the creation of a feeling against international strife and to the implanting of a desire for world-wide toleration. The grouping of the selections (story, essay, poem etc.) in order to secure continuity of thought - one selection serving to reveal and support another - was to be aimed at throughout, so that the contents of the book might not be a mere collection of unrelated items, but approach as nearly as possible to a unity.

      The committee was of the opinion that notes and explanations to aid in the securing of intelligent reading would be advantageous, but that they should not be unduly elaborate or very numerous, and that they should form a section at the end of the book. It is hoped that those which have been provided will not only prove helpful in themselves, but will also suggest interesting lines of study (critical, etymological, biographical, historical, geographical, etc) that may be followed up to advantage by some of the young readers, if not by all.

      Though it was recognized that the local production of a series of reading-books to compare favourably with those issued by leading British publishers would not be easy of accomplishment, yet it was believed that the effect of the use of such a series in the schools and in the pupils' homes would make the effort well worth while.

      Number in series: 5

Works about this Work

The Forum : Robert Murray on Primary Knowledge Robert Murray , 2007 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 24-25 November 2007; (p. 2)
Robert Murray recalls learning his school lessons from the Victorian Readers : Fifth Book and notes the advantages of this learning method.
The Forum : Robert Murray on Primary Knowledge Robert Murray , 2007 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 24-25 November 2007; (p. 2)
Robert Murray recalls learning his school lessons from the Victorian Readers : Fifth Book and notes the advantages of this learning method.
Last amended 21 Jul 2015 14:47:29
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