AustLit

'In Australian literature, Barron Field is at once marginal and foundational. His usual claim to fame is that in 1819 he published the first book of poetry in Australia, a collection entitled First Fruits of Australian Poetry and comprised of two poems, which he then republished with four further poems in 1823. Notably, the book was self‐published using the official government printer, and bears on its title page the declaration ‘For Private Distribution’.' (Introduction)