| Author | William Edward Harney |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Arnhem land |
Publication date | 1948 |
| Publication place | Australia |
The Brimming Billabong is a 1948 Australian book by William Edward Harney about an Aboriginal man, Marmel, from Arnhem Land. [1] [2] [3]
According to the Canberra Times "it is... a significant and worthwhile book... Harney failed, as most others have done, to state an aborigine's thoughts, feelings and viewpoint in English. He gets only part of the way, but even this is a major achievement in a most difficult field." [4]
The Argus said, "Only an anthropologist could say with certainty whether he paints a true picture of the aboriginal mind, but this is a book of absorbing interest." [5]
The Bulletin wrote "The aboriginal, named Marmel, who is supposed to tell the story in his own words, does not talk like an aboriginal, nor yet like a white man, but like a book; and a poor book at that — an old-fashioned book, loaded with stale romantic cliches." [6]
The Sun called it "a human story, simply and convincingly told." [7]
In the 1950s Lee Robinson tried to interest director Harry Watt in making a film of the book. No film resulted. [8]