From The Front: Despatches From The Boer War

Banjo Patterson was sent by the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Argus to cover the Boer War as their official correspondent. Not content to simply record the progress of the war, he was shot at, went behind Boer lines with the Medical Corps, spoke to doctors, farmers, prisoners of war and respected figures who supported the Boer cause. From it all came a remarkable record of the campaign - sometimes serious and contemplative, sometimes compelling in recounting the fear and exhilaration of battle, sometimes reveling in absurdities of war.

Published for the first time as a separate collection, 'From the Front' contains Paterson's despatches, carefully annotated and illustrated with maps, original drawings and photographs. It gives an extraordinary insight into Australia's first war, and reveals the talent of one of our best-loved writers.