Strugglers and Settlers: Darvall Family Letters 1839 - 1849.

Napier, NZ: Evolve Studios (Printer), 2005. 2nd ed.. Paperback small octavo, very good condition, flexible covers, black & white drawings, minimal foxing top edge, spine edge rear cover rubbed, minor edgewear, small sticker top corner flyleaf (covers faint sticker mark), owner's label inside front cover, loosely inserted corrigenda slip. 329 pp. Jeremy Long has edited the letters of the Darvall Family, who sailed from England to New South Wales in 1839. He utilises the letters sent to cousins in England by the Darvall sisters. They describe in detail their experiences on the voyage out and their first impressions of Sydney and the hinterland. Most of the letters were written by the three Darvall sisters. The eldest, Emily Mary Darvall, was the most accomplished and devoted letter writer. Emily Mary was the grandmother of Banjo Paterson. Emily was also a gifted writer of verse and some of her verses are published in this book for the first time. The editor is a descendent of Emily Mary. A great way to learn about early Australian history. (This copy: Second edition, 2005, slightly corrected and updated, Evolve Studios, Napier. Not the first edition, 1994, Butterfly Books, Springwood.).