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Five Years Under the Southern Cross: Experiences and Impressions

Chapter 2: PREFACE
By Frederic C. Spurr
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About This Book

Through a sequence of impressionist sketches and essays the author records impressions of life across the Commonwealth, from coastal cities and their social scenes to the remoter bush and agricultural districts. Chapters describe urban character, climate and seasonal contrasts, bush travel and hardships, encounters with Indigenous communities, crop and pastoral developments, the sugar and fruit industries, public shows, and social and religious life. The volume also considers labour disputes, political trends, and Tasmania's distinct character, offering descriptive vignettes and practical observations aimed at making the country's daily life and wider imperial connections clearer to distant readers.

PREFACE

For five years, during my residence in Australia, I had the privilege of contributing to the English Christian World a large number of articles on life in the Commonwealth. These articles excited a great amount of interest amongst all classes, and brought me a vast correspondence, which made it abundantly clear that even well-educated people at home know little about the inner life of Australia. This book is an attempt to throw some light upon that far-off country, and to make Australia “live.” Many books have been written about the Commonwealth, but none quite on the lines of the following pages. In a series of impressionist sketches various phases of Australian life are set forth—the life in the midst of which I worked. The editor of the Christian World has generously permitted me to make free use of the articles I contributed to that journal. I gratefully acknowledge this kindness.

Frederic C. Spurr.

Regent’s Park Chapel,
London, N.W.