AustLit

'"In 1886, a ballad published in the Bulletin magazine carried the rather lengthy title, 'A Dream of the Melbourne Cup: a long way after Gordon'; the name of the poet underneath, however, was more succinct - "The Banjo". Under that same pseudonym, Andrew Barton Paterson was to have a host of poems published in the Bulletin, culminating in a one volume collection of those poems in 1895. The book was an outstanding success, selling 10,000 copies in the first year alone. In the history of Australian publishing it still remains one of the greatest bestsellers.

'"Unfortunately, the acclaim and accolades of artists comes more from the heart and voice than pocket, and Paterson was forced to follow a variety of professions to exist. He soon foresook law for journalism, first as a war correspondent in China and London; Editor back in his homeland, until the Great War saw him as an ambulance driver in its midst.

"Paterson died in 1941, leaving a vast collection willed to the world. Historians and academics can write of Paterson's contribution to the establishment of a distinctively Australian literary culture; but only the public can bear true testimony to his special place as bush balladeer."' (Publication summary)