The Red Chief: As Told By the Last of His Tribe is a 1953 book by Ion Idriess about Gambu Ganuurru or Red Kangaroo, a tribal leader in the Gunnedah region in the 18th century prior to European settlement.[1][2]
The young warrior Red Kangaroo becomes a chief of his tribe – the Red Chief of the Gunnedah district. His story is handed down through the generations of his tribe and given by the last survivor, Bungaree, to the white settlers of the district.
Backgroundedit
Bungaree reportedly told the story of the Red Chief to a police officer, Senior Sgt John Ewing in the early 19th century. Notes of this talk were taken by Ewin's son Stan and wound up in the possession of a historian, who sent them to Idriess, who decided to write the book.[3][4]
Receptionedit
The Melbourne Argus said "There is always danger in trying to sentimentalise a savage, it leaves the reader with a double standard. Red Kangaroo's code, in the matter of homicide, pillage and wife-stealing is very different from ours, and his mental processes would be more realistic if they were not so close to those of a typical member of a junior chamber of commerce."[5]
The Bulletin said "the aboriginal lore and the awkward reconstruction of tribal life soon give way to a really excellent yarn that redeems the whole book —it is worth waiting for. This is the story of Red Kangaroo’s winning himself a wife —or, rather, two wives... Mr. Idriess tells it with gusto and complete conviction.. Mr. Idriess has once more written his Christmas bestseller and at the same time has continued his invaluable services to the nation as an interpreter of the bush and the aborigines."[6]
^"TRIBAL NAPOLEON". The News. Vol. 61, no. 9, 436. Adelaide. 6 November 1953. p. 18. Retrieved 26 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NOVELS". The Argus. No. 33, 447. Melbourne. 14 November 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 26 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"BOOKS AND AUTHORS". Western Mail. Vol. 69, no. 3, 351. Western Australia. 21 January 1954. p. 40. Retrieved 18 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"A great abo. warrior". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XVIII, no. 203. New South Wales, Australia. 14 November 1953. p. 24. Retrieved 5 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NOVELS". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 33, 447. Victoria, Australia. 14 November 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 5 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Red Page THE NEW IDRIESS", The Bulletin, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 23 December 1953, retrieved 5 February 2024 – via Trove
^"Books for everyone from the best-sellers of 1953". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 21, no. 28. Australia, Australia. 9 December 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
External linksedit
Full copy of book at Internet Archive ("No longer available" in November 2021.)
chief, told, last, tribe, 1953, book, idriess, about, gambu, ganuurru, kangaroo, tribal, leader, gunnedah, region, 18th, century, prior, european, settlement, first, editionauthorion, idriesscountryaustralialanguageenglishgenrehistorical, novelpublisherangus, . The Red Chief As Told By the Last of His Tribe is a 1953 book by Ion Idriess about Gambu Ganuurru or Red Kangaroo a tribal leader in the Gunnedah region in the 18th century prior to European settlement 1 2 The Red ChiefFirst editionAuthorIon IdriessCountryAustraliaLanguageEnglishGenrehistorical novelPublisherAngus and RobertsonPublication date1953 Contents 1 Plot 2 Background 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot editThe young warrior Red Kangaroo becomes a chief of his tribe the Red Chief of the Gunnedah district His story is handed down through the generations of his tribe and given by the last survivor Bungaree to the white settlers of the district Background editBungaree reportedly told the story of the Red Chief to a police officer Senior Sgt John Ewing in the early 19th century Notes of this talk were taken by Ewin s son Stan and wound up in the possession of a historian who sent them to Idriess who decided to write the book 3 4 Reception editThe Melbourne Argus said There is always danger in trying to sentimentalise a savage it leaves the reader with a double standard Red Kangaroo s code in the matter of homicide pillage and wife stealing is very different from ours and his mental processes would be more realistic if they were not so close to those of a typical member of a junior chamber of commerce 5 The Bulletin said the aboriginal lore and the awkward reconstruction of tribal life soon give way to a really excellent yarn that redeems the whole book it is worth waiting for This is the story of Red Kangaroo s winning himself a wife or rather two wives Mr Idriess tells it with gusto and complete conviction Mr Idriess has once more written his Christmas bestseller and at the same time has continued his invaluable services to the nation as an interpreter of the bush and the aborigines 6 The book sold well 7 References edit TRIBAL NAPOLEON The News Vol 61 no 9 436 Adelaide 6 November 1953 p 18 Retrieved 26 March 2016 via National Library of Australia NOVELS The Argus No 33 447 Melbourne 14 November 1953 p 14 Retrieved 26 March 2016 via National Library of Australia BOOKS AND AUTHORS Western Mail Vol 69 no 3 351 Western Australia 21 January 1954 p 40 Retrieved 18 April 2016 via National Library of Australia A great abo warrior The Daily Telegraph Vol XVIII no 203 New South Wales Australia 14 November 1953 p 24 Retrieved 5 February 2024 via National Library of Australia NOVELS The Argus Melbourne No 33 447 Victoria Australia 14 November 1953 p 14 Retrieved 5 February 2024 via National Library of Australia The Red Page THE NEW IDRIESS The Bulletin Sydney N S W John Haynes and J F Archibald 23 December 1953 retrieved 5 February 2024 via Trove Books for everyone from the best sellers of 1953 The Australian Women s Weekly Vol 21 no 28 Australia Australia 9 December 1953 p 2 Retrieved 5 February 2024 via National Library of Australia External links editFull copy of book at Internet Archive No longer available in November 2021 The Red Chief at AustLit nbsp This article about a biographical or autobiographical book is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Red Chief amp oldid 1212085504, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
