Sure! It wasn't until you pointed out about the books being controversial DURING the time they were released (as opposed to afterwards) that I thought about that angle at all. I call that a unique perspective, much food for thought... Lovely!
Hi there, long-time 'Boney' fan here - sorry, my mind still uses the spelling from the TV series even if I have been reading the books for XXXXXX years. Do you know about Upfield's own (less then successful) attempts at detective work?
When I went to Australia back in 1999 I was missing one book only, 'Bushranger of the Skies', and soon discovered that they are just not available there at all and booksellers generally don't admit to knowing anything about them. (Tried buying 'The Irish RM' in Dublin, too, with similar results.) However I spent a morning digging through a second-hand bookshop in Sydney and came up with precisely one Upfield book - a first edition 'Bushranger of the Skies' at a really modest price. I still can't believe that happened
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Oh! Another Bony reader! I have that very book you mentioned about Upfeild's 'attempt' at detective work, it was more a series of really bad coincidences. If it what I am thinking it is (The Murchison Murders?) I have the book and it is now a rare collectors item.
My copy of 'Bushranger of the Skies' is called 'No Footprints in the Bush', but that must have been a very exciting find to make, and a 1st edition one at that. Hang on to that puppy, it's priceless.
As for the series, I never saw the original, but I thought it highly ironic, and amusing, that James Laurenson became known to me through the Sharpe series. He played a Major General Ross. The picture I made isn't the greatest but I tried... I still have to laugh though, why on earth would they paint the guy brown? What were they thinking!!??
Tell me about it. If ever there's a fire, I'm going to be in trouble working out what to save - cats, husband or books!
As for why they painted the poor guy brown - well, I gather they just couldn't find an Australian actor who would play the part. There were a lot of full-blood Aboriginal/First Australian actors but they needed someone who would look half-European and there just wasn't anyone available. Hence the body make-up. (Quick pause while I contemplate the onerous task of painting James Laurenson.) Apparently it used to run in the heat - not surprising! You're talking about what, the 1970s; here in the UK we were still making "The Black and White Minstrel Show" and white guys were still playing 'Othello'. It just didn't occur to anyone that there was anything insensitive about it
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Sounds as if the books are worth keeping an eye out for.
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When I went to Australia back in 1999 I was missing one book only, 'Bushranger of the Skies', and soon discovered that they are just not available there at all and booksellers generally don't admit to knowing anything about them. (Tried buying 'The Irish RM' in Dublin, too, with similar results.) However I spent a morning digging through a second-hand bookshop in Sydney and came up with precisely one Upfield book - a first edition 'Bushranger of the Skies' at a really modest price. I still can't believe that happened ( ... )
Reply
My copy of 'Bushranger of the Skies' is called 'No Footprints in the Bush', but that must have been a very exciting find to make, and a 1st edition one at that. Hang on to that puppy, it's priceless.
As for the series, I never saw the original, but I thought it highly ironic, and amusing, that James Laurenson became known to me through the Sharpe series. He played a Major General Ross. The picture I made isn't the greatest but I tried... I still have to laugh though, why on earth would they paint the guy brown? What were they thinking!!??
( ... )
Reply
Tell me about it. If ever there's a fire, I'm going to be in trouble working out what to save - cats, husband or books!
As for why they painted the poor guy brown - well, I gather they just couldn't find an Australian actor who would play the part. There were a lot of full-blood Aboriginal/First Australian actors but they needed someone who would look half-European and there just wasn't anyone available. Hence the body make-up. (Quick pause while I contemplate the onerous task of painting James Laurenson.) Apparently it used to run in the heat - not surprising! You're talking about what, the 1970s; here in the UK we were still making "The Black and White Minstrel Show" and white guys were still playing 'Othello'. It just didn't occur to anyone that there was anything insensitive about it ( ... )
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