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Absolutely Revolting

May 1981, no. 30

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Contents Category: International Studies
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Article Title: The Public Agent
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Here are reports from an Australian agent in London, sent directly to the head of government and for his eyes only. I use the word ‘agent’ because in many respects R.G. Casey was that, rather than a more orthodox public servant or member of a diplomatic mission though his stated primary function was to improve the flow of information on international affairs to Australia.
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Here are reports from an Australian agent in London, sent directly to the head of government and for his eyes only. I use the word ‘agent’ because in many respects R.G. Casey was that, rather than a more orthodox public servant or member of a diplomatic mission though his stated primary function was to improve the flow of information on international affairs to Australia.

Consider the position. In 1924, Major Richard Gardiner Casey, D.S.O., M.C., M.A. (Cantab.), Chief Intelligence Officer (Citizen Forces) at Army Headquarters in Melbourne, a wealthy bachelor with a distinguished war record, joined the Commonwealth Public Service as a Third Division clerk in the External Affairs Branch of the Prime Minister’s Department. What on earth was such a man doing in the Public Service on £15.9.3 a week?

Read more: L.L. Robson reviews ‘My Dear P.M’ edited by W.J. Hudson and Jane North

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John McQuilton reviews ‘Ned Kelly: A Pictorial history’ by George Boxall and ‘The Kelly Years’ by Graham Jones and Judy Bassett
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Contents Category: Reviews
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Article Title: Again Kelly Again
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To borrow from Jones and Bassett: ‘Not another Kelly book!’ Well, yes; in fact two more can be added to last year’s bumper crop. One of them comes from Kelly Country itself, written by two local residents. And the two books provide a perfect example of the extremes in the Kelly publishing game.
Book 1 Title: Ned Kelly: A Pictorial History
Book Author: George Boxall
Book 1 Biblio: Currey O’Neil, $5.95, 64 pp
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Book 2 Title: The Kelly Years
Book 2 Author: Graham Jones and Judy Bassett
Book 2 Biblio: Charquin Hill, 128 pp
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To borrow from Jones and Bassett: ‘Not another Kelly book!’ Well, yes; in fact two more can be added to last year’s bumper crop. One of them comes from Kelly Country itself, written by two local residents. And the two books provide a perfect example of the extremes in the Kelly publishing game.

Ned Kelly: A Pictorial History was obviously compiled for the centenary market. Profusely illustrated, it uses Boxall’s text, written over seventy years ago, to tell the Kelly story. The book is slipshod in its preparation and presentation, shows no signs of editorial planning or basic research, and takes no account of the Kelly literature published since Boxall wrote his book. Boxall’s text is riddled with errors. The publishers have made no attempt to amend it. Even Lonigan’s name is misspelt (Lonergan).

Read more: John McQuilton reviews ‘Ned Kelly: A Pictorial history’ by George Boxall and ‘The Kelly Years’ by...

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Yvonne Rousseau reviews ‘The Dreaming Dragons’ by Damien Broderick
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Contents Category: Fiction
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Article Title: Inside Ayers Rock
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The epigraph to The Dreaming Dragons suggests that melodrama can accomplish ‘the articulation of the unsayable’.

Accordingly, this book evokes transpersonal consciousness through the medium of a gripping plot, whose effect of conveying ‘the unsayable’ is only heightened by the fact that the writer and his words sometimes seem at odds with one another. Thus, ‘the midday sun took barrenness into its fists and shook it’ is like Roger Zelazny impossibly faltering; and ‘wholly in the dimensions of tactual  and haptic space’ involves adjectival tautology. Overall, the writing seems designed to make readers stand back (melodramatically), rather than to lead them into enlightenment.
Book 1 Title: The Dreaming Dragons
Book 1 Subtitle: A Time Opera
Book Author: Damien Broderick
Book 1 Biblio: Norstrilia Press, $12.95, 245 p., O 909106 07 X
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The epigraph to The Dreaming Dragons suggests that melodrama can accomplish ‘the articulation of the unsayable’.

Accordingly, this book evokes transpersonal consciousness through the medium of a gripping plot, whose effect of conveying ‘the unsayable’ is only heightened by the fact that the writer and his words sometimes seem at odds with one another. Thus, ‘the midday sun took barrenness into its fists and shook it’ is like Roger Zelazny impossibly faltering; and ‘wholly in the dimensions of tactual  and haptic space’ involves adjectival tautology. Overall, the writing seems designed to make readers stand back (melodramatically), rather than to lead them into enlightenment.

Read more: Yvonne Rousseau reviews ‘The Dreaming Dragons’ by Damien Broderick

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Andrew Spaull reviews Melbourne Studies in Education 1980 by Stephen Murray-Smith
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Contents Category: Non-fiction
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Article Title: Educated History
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Custom Highlight Text: During its twenty-two years Melbourne Studies in Education (MSE) has served many masters: the publication of public lectures, staff and visitors’ papers at the Faculty of Education, Melbourne University, thesis work and so on.
Book 1 Title: Melbourne Studies in Education 1980
Book Author: Stephen Murray-Smith
Book 1 Biblio: Melbourne University Publishing, $15.60 pb, 244 pp
Book 1 Author Type: Editor
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During its twenty-two years Melbourne Studies in Education (MSE) has served many masters: the publication of public lectures, staff and visitors’ papers at the Faculty of Education, Melbourne University, thesis work and so on. But the annual has remained loyal to the study of history of education, especially on Australian and South Pacific topics. This has not been accidental as all four editors since 1957-58 have been historians of education.

Read more: Andrew Spaull reviews 'Melbourne Studies in Education 1980' by Stephen Murray-Smith

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Stanley Brogden reviews ‘History of RAAF’s Beaufighter Squadrons’ by N.M Parnell
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Contents Category: Military History
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Article Title: Quiet Death
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Some aircraft seem to be designed to achieve worldwide publicity, like the Spitfire, while others just do not make the headlines because they are not engaged in the more historical clashes. The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the combat aircraft without which the Second World War could not have been won, but it has never caught the public eye. This book tells the story of the decision to manufacture the Beaufighter. under licence in Australia- and the combat achievements of ‘both British-made and Australian-made Beaufighters during the Japanese War in. the Southwest Pacific Area, as it was then known.
Book 1 Title: History of RAAF’s Beaufighter Squadrons
Book Author: N.M Parnell
Book 1 Biblio: Reed, 128pp, $17.95
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Some aircraft seem to be designed to achieve worldwide publicity, like the Spitfire, while others just do not make the headlines because they are not engaged in the more historical clashes. The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the combat aircraft without which the Second World War could not have been won, but it has never caught the public eye. This book tells the story of the decision to manufacture the Beaufighter. under licence in Australia- and the combat achievements of ‘both British-made and Australian-made Beaufighters during the Japanese War in. the Southwest Pacific Area, as it was then known.

Read more: Stanley Brogden reviews ‘History of RAAF’s Beaufighter Squadrons’ by N.M Parnell

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