Waltzing Matilda. New Book on The Origins.

[Gary Harding]

As a bush poetry association with presumably a strong interest in Banjo Paterson, it is worth mentioning on the forum the recent publication of a book :

Waltzing Matilda Australia's Accidental Anthem by W. Benjamin Lindner

If interested, one can Google it.

The words to the WM song were written of course by Banjo Paterson who reckons he “..sold it for a fiver”

This follows on closely behind Grantlee Kieza's book about Banjo Paterson.

Paterson and WM might be subjects of renewed public interest.??

I have not read this particular WM book so have formed no independent personal opinion of it. One might say that at least in principle a book on this subject has to be a good thing for Australia and literature and Bush Poetry??
I suppose I would agree with that, but only with certain reservations. Books on the origins of WM have been written in the past resulting in acrimonious debates between authors. Not nice.

One book on the Origins was written with the apparent purpose of presenting WM as a Socialist anthem.
Another has a fundamental factual mistake two thirds through the book that should have been picked up before publication.

And so on....

https://www.booktopia.com.au/waltzing-m ... 77076.html

As always, one must beware of opinion dressed up as fact... but having said that, it could be a good read for those with an intense interest in WM.

[Gary Harding]

From the Collection ... these are most of the books published on Banjo Paterson's Waltzing Matilda and its Origins.

The 1935 book Cobbers is not really a full book on the subject. However it does make reference to Paterson's WM and is the earliest book that I could find.
The Rams Head volume (1974) is Harry Pearce's most vehement reaction to Richard Magoffin's assertions about the origins. It is copy 65 of a limited run of 100 copies only. I gather these two men were battling for the coveted title of "The Expert" on the subject.

The Origins of Waltzing Matilda is a very controversial area, so I avoid it and just present the books alone. They are a fascinating story in themselves and are part of a themed display that I have made that looks great.

I hear what Banjo says ... that it was just a ditty and nothing more. Something that clicked when put together with a nice tune. No political agenda associated. A little off-the-cuff poem put to music.. that took off.

[Shelley Hansen]

... or as we'd say today, it "went viral"!!