Ion L Idriess (aka Jack) born at Waverley, Sydney on 20th Sep 1889 and died 6 June 1979 at Mona Vale,
Sydney was one of Australia''s most prolific authors. This guide offers some information about his life, reasons for his popularity and a bibliography of his major
published books.
Who was Idriess and what did he write about? Idriess led a life most could only dream about. The quintessential Australian, he inspired many and was instrumental in popularising Australian writing before it was considered viable. Even today his book on gold
prospecting is sought after for its invaluable information. Reference to his Guerilla Series is made on US military sites. Idriess led an amazing life probably due to his passionate, enquiring nature and disarming ingenuity. He survived typhoid, mined for gold and opals, was one of the legendary ''blooded'' ANZAC''s having fought and been seriously injured at Gallipoli, was marooned on a deserted island with a mate that went mad and tried to kill him, trained with Snowy Baker, a 1908 Olympic Games silver medallist for boxing, after being told he would never walk again without crutches and went on to fight in a boxing exhibition at Grafton, wrote text books for the Australian Army in WW II, travelled extensively throughout Cape York Peninsula often with Aboriginals beginning his life-long interest in their customs, hunted crocodiles, broke in horses, chronicled the rites and history of some indigenous races, saving their culture from anonymity. Jack was awarded an OBE for his services to publishing and died a few months short of his 90th birthday.
Why Do People Buy His Books? Because he is immensely readable! Actually his first published book in 1927 was a failure (he followed his publishers advice and embellished the truth with a fictional romantic twist). It was later published as a factual book in 1938. With his second book ''Prospecting for Gold'' he rapidly gained popularity. Because his stories transcend time, record history in a romantic, journalistic style, typify the old-fashioned Australian spirit and are the product of a noble and authentic soul (very human with many failings nonetheless) he will always be popular and his books will only increase in value.
What are Idriess Books Worth? First editions in dust jackets always attract higher prices. Signed editions are good however Idriess signed many of his books and it doesn''t always mean it is a first edition. Angus & Robertson published his books from 1931 with many being reprinted, some in the same year as the first edition. Prices fluctuate but scarcer editions are always highly bid upon.
Bibliography of Major Books
1927
Madman''s Island 1931
Prospecting for Gold
1931
Lasseter''s Last Ride 1932
Flynn of the Inland 1932
The Desert Column
1932
Men of the Jungle 1933
Drums of Mer 1933
Gold Dust and Ashes 1934
The Yellow Joss 1935
Man Tracks 1936
The Cattle King 1937
Over the Range Sunshine and Shadows in the Kimberleys 1938
How Must Australia Fight - Also published as ''Must Australia Fight''.
1939
Forty Fathoms Deep 1939
Cyaniding for Gold 1940
Lightning Ridge 1940
Headhunters of the Coral Sea 1940
The Great Trek p; 1941
Fortunes in Minerals
1941
Nemarluk: King of the Wilds 1942
The Guerrilla Series : Series of 6 written for the Australian Army during WWII
Shoot to Kill Sniping Guerrilla Tactics Trapping the Jap Lurking Death The Scout 1943
The Great Boomerang
1944
The Silent Service 1945
Horrie the Wog Dog 1946
In Crocodile Land 1947
Isles of Despair
1948
Stone of Destiny 1949
One Wet Season 1950
The Wild White Man of Badu 1951
Across the Nullarbor 1952
Outlaws of the Leopolds
1953
The Red Chief 1954
The Nor''Westers 1955
The Vanished People 1956
The Silver City 1957
Coral Sea Calling 1958
Back O'' Cairns 1959
The Tin Scratchers 1960
The Wild North 1961
Tracks of Destiny
1962
My Mate Dick 1963
Our Living Stone Age 1964
Our Stone Age Mystery 1968
Challenge of the North