AustLit

'Covering the period January 1944 to March 1949, the extraordinary life of Australian artist Donald Friend continues in The Diaries of Donald Friend Volume 2. This is the second of four casebound volumes published by the National Library, revealing Friend's fine powers of observation, his irreverence and wit, his sensitivity and his marvellous eloquence. The diaries speak about art, love, friendship, travel, and much more, making absorbing reading as Friend experiences his final years of war service, both in Brisbane and as an official war artist; his return to Sydney where he lived with fellow artists in the colonial mansion Merioola; his travels to the Torres Strait Islands; and time spent in the old gold-mining town of Hill End. Including over 100 drawings from the diaries, this book is an essential publication for all lovers of art and great writing. Published under the auspices of the Morris West Trust Fund.' (Publication summary)

'Covering the period March 1949 to December 1966, Volume 3 of the extraordinary Diaries of Donald Friend sees Friend travel to Italy, London, France, Spain and Sri Lanka before eventually returning to Sydney. During this period he is also at Hill End (NSW), and in Queensland, all the time producing art (winning the Blake Prize in 1955), writing books, absorbing the influences of various cultures and meeting an interesting range of people, including Attilio Guarracino, Peter Sculthorpe, Patrick White, Robert Hughes and Ian Fairweather. Published under the auspices of the Morris West Trust Fund.' (Publication summary)

'Donald Friend's legendary years in Bali in the 1960s and 70s and his subsequent final decade in Australia, are revealed in detail in this fourth and final volume of The Diaries Donald Friend. In Bali he lives luxuriously, like a lord - even keeping his own gamelan orchestra - and becomes an international celebrity artist. He welcomes guests such as Mick Jagger and the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, entertains numerous other visitors who want to buy his paintings and drawings and socialised freely with friends, including many other artists. He engages in significant building activity and property development while also producing superb illustrated manuscripts and books. And despite increasing ill-health, Friend continues to revel in his life's drama and creativity, remaining an eloquent, often charming and sometimes irascible companion. Including over 60 drawings from the diaries, many of them in colour, this volume confirms Friend's quicksilver creative brilliance and extraordinary insight. He is perhaps Australia's most important twentieth-century diarist. Published under the auspices of the Morris West Trust Fund.'