At the university of new england, where ward worked for many years, an australian historical association conference in september 2007 included a major focus on ward and his work. Review of frank bongiorno and david andrew robertss russel. What the narrative does do however, is trace and explore the source of what he referred to as the national mystique. The australian legend, russel ward and the parallel universe of nino culotta. Reflections on the legend, edited by frank bongiorno and david andrew roberts special edition of journal of australian colonial history, vol.
Publication date 1958 topics national characteristics, australian. The australian legend russel braddock ward snippet view 1958. John rickard has reflected that any discussion of australian national values seems bound to use historian russel ward as a starting point. However, it was popularised by russel wards 1958 book, the australian legend, which discusses the typical australian, and describes the typical australian as, a practical man, rough and ready in his manners and quick to decry any appearance of affectation in othersa great. Russel wards australian legend drew on frederick jackson turners ideas about the frontier legend inherent to all settler societies, and identified the australian type that was created in the bush and. Russel wards classic study of the roots of the australian character, the australian legend, describes the mythical character of australian men. New search eresources user lists site feedback help collection delivery times ask a librarian. He had been involved in psychological testing while serving in the army during the. Details about russel ward the australian legend hardback with dust wrapper 1960.
Review of frank bongiorno and david andrew robertss. Russel ward is the author of the australian legend 3. The australian legend, russel ward and the parallel. His now famous, penetrating analysis of nineteenth century australian history shows how the characteristically australian traits first found expression in the frontier life of the nomad pastoral workers of the outback, eventually. Ward, the australian legend, melbourne, 1966 1958, p. Historians were key participants in this debate, their most prominent role being to contest or support ward \u27s claims about the political, economic and cultural significance of. Still in print after five decades, russel wards the australian legend has survived its critics, writes david andrew roberts. Dr russel ward was an associateprofessor in history in the university of new england. Library book the australian legend the australian legend.
Pdf click to increase image size click to decrease image size. In union is strength turner, 1976 both offer valuable overviews of organised labour in australia. Russel ward, the australian legend oxford university press melbourne 1958 other readings. Looking back at this decade, the historian russel ward, in his study the australian legend 1978 1958, identified the emergence of what he termed a national mystique that he characterised as. Historians russel ward and ian turner were early enthusiasts of the australian folk revival. The australian legend, first published in 1958, which delineated once and for all the essential. Writing australian masculinitywriting australian masculine. In the australian legend, russel ward wrote that the convict influence on australian society was very much more important than has usually been supposed. Wards main reason for writing the australian legend was to portray the typical australians perception of himself. Historians were key participants in this debate, their most. The russel ward lecture finding a new legend by professor don aitkin vicechancellor, university of canberra it is a great honour to be giving this lecture, and it is a great pleasure, as well, for it brings me back to the place where i became an adult, where i learned what i was for and what i was good at, and where, of course, i met. Since the australian legend was published, many of wards arguments have been debated, some of them derided. The australian legend russel braddock ward snippet view 1965. Essay about russel ward, the australian legend book.
Fifty years after its publication russel ward s book the australian legend remains the classic account of our national origins. Whenever there is a national event or celebration in australia, favourite sporting heroes including racehorses, celebrated artists and the nations. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. In its fusion of the sacred and the secular, of the everyday and the official, anzac is the modern australian dreaming. I suspect that there are many questions that could be posed about the significance of the 1950s as context for wards conceptualisation of the noble bushman. Looking back at this decade, the historian russel ward, in his study the australian legend 1978 1958, identified the emergence of what he termed a national mystique that he characterised as egalitarian, antiauthoritarian and collectivist. Origin of ideals, traits and behaviour which australians think of as typically australian. This article considers how ward interpreted australias convict heritage, tracing. When writing the big picture histories, historians often overlook or exaggerate certain aspects of. Discuss with reference to one the recommended texts.
The problem of nationalism and imperialism in british. The australian legend by russel ward oxford university press melbourne 1978. Search the catalogue for collection items held by the national library of australia. Origin of a particular myth of bronzed australian bushmen, rural labourers of the 19th century, claimed by ward and others to epitomise australia, or at least australian males. Ward studied english at the university of adelaide and taught at geelong and sydney grammar schools. Whilst the pull of the legend has waxed and waned over the years, the australian. In order for federation to succeed, a national ideal and common identity had to be forged. Russel wards australian legend drew on frederick jackson turners ideas about the frontier legend inherent to all settler societies, and identified the australian type that was created in the bush and propagated through publications like the bulletin.
An urban context for the australian legend, historical studies 18 1978. Russel ward generalised australians, granting us attributes such as mateship, egalitarianism and antiauthoritarianism. From the collection of city of moorabbin historical society operating the box cottage museum joyce park jasper road ormond victoria description a small orange soft covered book on the front cover a drawing in black depicting early nomadic pastoral workers in the. This book traces the considerable influence of nomad pastoral workers, who provided the work force in the nineteenthcentury outback. According to the myth the typical australian is a practical man sic, rough and ready in his manners and quick to decry any appearance of affectation in others. Despite all this, it is what russel ward referred to as the australian legend in his influential book of that name that has prevailed and endured. Sacred objectsaustralian design and national celebrations. Abstract fifty years after its publication russel ward s the australian legend remains the classic account of our national culture. Oct 21, 2010 fifty years after its publication russel wards book the australian legend remains the classic account of our national origins. He was educated at prince alfred college and the university of adelaide. In wards theorisation of the legend, the national type is a. The problem of nationalism and imperialism 161 nondenominational. It was shaped by a long debate, in europe and australia, about the cultural basis of national selfhood, as well as by the events of ward s own time.
According to the myth the typical australian is a practical man, rough and ready in his manners and quick to decry any appearance of affection in others. It was shaped by a long debate, in europe and australia, about the cultural basis of national selfhood, as well as by the events of wards own time. Most historians point to the australian identification with the bush. Pdf russel ward and the convict legend david andrew roberts. Request this item to view in the librarys reading rooms using your library card. Wards model of a building wave, consolidating into myth in the. Reflections on the legend, journal of australian colonial history, vol. Russel ward will be remembered forever for his great work. Russel ward, frontier violence and australian historiography. Still in print after five decades, russel ward s the australian legend has survived its critics, writes david andrew roberts. To include a comma in your tag, surround the tag with double quotes.
Abstract fifty years after its publication russel wards the australian legend remains the classic account of our national culture. Oxford university press, 262 pages, 1958, english, book. The typical australian, according to russel ward, was a practical man, rough and ready in his manners. The article then goes on to explore the constitution of. Australian who russel ward in 1958 argued was representative of the. Russel wards classic book the australian legend1958 avers that, from the. The australian legend russel ward national library of. The australian light horsemen have a unique place within the anzac legend, and they should not be denied that place. Ward is concerned with demonstrating how a distinctive ethos developed among the nomad tribe of upcountry australians and then, being absorbed by other australians, became the national ethos. In the shadow of the australian legend murdoch university.
Jun 08, 2005 ward s main reason for writing the australian legend was to portray the typical australian s perception of himself. Library book the australian legend the australian legend by russel ward. Fifty years after its publication russel wards book the australian legend remains the classic account of our national origins. To learn more about how to request items watch this short online video. The australian legend was first published in 1958, by which time the legend was the best part of a century old. Since the australian legend was published, many of ward s arguments have been debated, some of them derided. Russel braddock ward am 9 november 1914 august 1995 was an australian historian best known as the author of the australian legend 1958. Extract in the decades before russel ward made famous the phrase, australian legend, nationally inspired writers and intellectuals set about defining and filling out the character of the story, in a general imbrication of bush mythology and literary democracy. As others have noted, the idea of an australian legend percolated across the decade, and ward was not the first to use the term. In this classic piece of australian literary heritage, russell ward looks at the ideals, traits and behaviours australians think as typical of. All of the characteristics believed to be essentially australian were emphasised in the figure exalted by the legend.
View online the australian legend russel ward trove. I suspect that there are many questions that could be posed about the significance of the 1950s as context for ward s conceptualisation of the noble bushman. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Oxford university press, 1958 z12060 1958 multi chapter work criticism abstract in this classic piece of australian literary heritage, russell ward looks at the ideals, traits and behaviours australians think as typical of themselves. This book traces the considerable influence of nomad pastoral. The australian legend fifty years on quadrant online. Russel ward the australian legend hardback with dust. This article considers how ward interpreted australia s convict heritage, tracing. The australian legend russel ward oxford university press melbourne 1958. Russel ward will be remembered forever for his great work, the australian legend, first published in 1958, which delineated once and for all the essential elements of what he called variously the australian mystique, ethos, legend or character. Russel braddock ward am 9 november 1914 august 1995 was an australian historian best known as the author of the australian legend 1958, an examination of the development of the australian character. In 2008 russel wards the australian legend turned fifty.
In particular, ward began to explore the sexual dimensions of male mateship, suggesting that this venerable institution was a sublimated homosexual relationship ward, the australian legend 99100. When writing the big picture histories, historians often overlook or exaggerate certain aspects of australian history to make their point. The enigma of the bogan and its significance to class in. He admitted that the book was not intended to be a history of australia, and it wasnt. For forty years \u27the australian legend\u27 was the textual hub on which an increasingly repetitive discussion about australian \u27national identity\u27 revolved.
Two that have been especially controversial were his conclusion that the legendary australian bushman originated with the convicts and, secondly, that our distinctive egalitarianism was also a product of the convict era. The eighth annual archives lecture rethinking the australian. Seal beautifully encapsulates this idea when he says. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our cookie policy.