Favourite Poems of C J Dennis

C. J. Dennis

Child & Associates, 1989

Full colour illustrations by Brendan Akhurst

Dust-jacket Synopsis

The verse of C.J. Dennis celebrates the simple pleasures of life. His uniquely Australian poems paint a vivid picture of ordinary Australians and their way of life. His most successful poems capture the patriotic mood of the Great War — “The Austra-laise” became the unofficial anthem of the Australian troops.

Some of his most enjoyable poems are presented through the eyes of the larrikin “Sentimental Bloke”, while others reflect the lives of farmers and small-town Australians. All evoke a time of innocence, mateship, and enduring values.

This selection includes many favourite poems featuring well-known characters — the Kid, Doreen, Ginger Mick and Digger Smith — alongside more reflective verse capturing Dennis’s appreciation of Australian life in the early twentieth century.

Brendan Akhurst’s illustrations complement the text, capturing the life and atmosphere of the poems.