The Brimming Billabong Explained

The Brimming Billabong is a 1948 Australian book by William Edward Harney about an Aboriginal man, Marmel, from Arnhem Land.^{[1] [2] [3]}

According to the Canberra Times "It is... a significant and worthwhile book... Harney failed, as most others have done, to state an aborigine's thoughts, feelings and viewpoint in English. He gets only part of the way, but even this is a major achievement in a most difficult field."^[4]

The Argus said "Only an anthropologist could say with certainty whether he paints a true picture of the aboriginal mind, but this is a book of absorbing interest."^[5]

The Bulletin wrote "The aboriginal, named Marmel, who is supposed to tell the story in his own words, does not talk like an aboriginal, nor yet like a white man, but like a book; and a poor book at that —an old-fashibned book, loaded with stale romantic cliches."

The Sun called it "a human story, simply and convincingly told."^[6]

In the 1950s Lee Robinson tried to interest directo Harry Watt in making a film of the book.^[7]

Notes and References

1. News: Book Reviews . . 9434 . New South Wales, Australia . 27 March 1948 . 30 July 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: BUSHMAN-AUTHOR FINDS IT'S MORE HUMAN "UP NORTH" . . 69 . 40 . Western Australia . 10 October 1947 . 30 July 2024 . 1 (MODERN WEEKLY News Magazine) . National Library of Australia.
3. News: The Twilight of a Native Race . . 28,991 . Victoria, Australia . 27 March 1948 . 30 July 2024 . 5 (FINAL EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
4. News: SPOKESMAN FOR THE ABORIGINES . . 37 . 10,492 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 23 March 1963 . 30 July 2024 . 19 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: NEW NOVELS BAITING THE CELT . . 31,685 . Victoria, Australia . 20 March 1948 . 30 July 2024 . 22 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: A few books to read . The Sun . 11,932 . New South Wales, Australia . 24 April 1948 . 30 July 2024 . 4 (FINAL FOOTBALL LAST RACE) . National Library of Australia.
7. Robinson . Lee . Graham Shirley . Lee Robinson . Oral history . 15 August 1976 . National Film and Sound Archive.