Cirrus@Austlit

Steven Murray-Smith introduces an anthology which he considers of great cultural importance for Australian society, as it exhibits the virtues that history has shown to be formative for the nation. He also sees the promotion of Australian Literature as important because 'the Australian people are to-day being subjected to a vicious and unprecedented flood of foreign decadence - comics, movies, "music," syndicated journalism and radio, theatre - preaching pornography, sadism, sex, violence, hatred between people and nations'. He states, 'it is therefore timely that the enduring qualities in our inheritance should be stressed', and sees Australian Literature as a means of achieving this.