Digger Smith

Description

The perfect collector's item - a beautiful facsimile edition of C. J. Dennis's classic tribute to the returned digger, published by Angus & Robertson during World War One as a gift from home to the soldier in the trenches. One of C. J. Dennis's most poignant books of verse, Digger Smith recalls a singing soldier from The Moods of Ginger Mick, who returns from Gallipoli to become the country neighbour of Doreen and the Bloke (The Sentimental Bloke). In true Dennis style it is told with wisdom, humour and pathos. This edition, published to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One, has been minted from one of eight extremely rare books of verse originally published by Angus & Robertson as little reminders of home for soldiers to slip into a pocket and carry through the fighting. It features original layout, illustrations by Hal Gye, advertising and blurbs, as well as the special 'Trench' dust jacket that wraps around the regular jacket, missing on nearly all of the rare extant original editions.

Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis (C. J. Dennis) was born in Auburn, South Australia, on 7 September 1876. He worked as a solicitor's clerk, journalist and bartender, before becoming one of Australia's most treasured poets with his publications of, among others, The Sentimental Bloke, The Moods of Ginger Mick, Digger Smith and The Glugs of Gosh.