Sir Sidney Kidman
pastoralist
For a short introduction we suggest you go to
Seven Significant Occasions from
Australia's Past.
Recommended reading:
|
|
The Cattle King
by Ion Idriess
This book (now out of print but still available -
see link on left) provides possibly the most comprehensive biography
of Kidman available.
It's great strength is that it is written by
someone who knows and has worked in the country and can write about
the commercial significance of Kidman's decisions and activities.
There is little point writing about Kidman if you don't understand
and appreciate Kidman's commercial achievements.
This book is best read with a comprehensive map of
Australia at hand. In any one year Kidman traversed great sections
of it on horseback. Much of it also lends itself to reading aloud.
There is a certain poetry in the predominantly Aboriginal names of
the outback towns and stations which is better heard in the
appropriate accent rather than when read silently. Unfortunately the
reading of an abridged version of the book available from ABC Audio
does not to our mind have the appropriate accents and cadences
At times the book becomes a somewhat episodic and
loses a little focus, but that will be of little concern to those
interested in the achievements of this remarkable man.
|
|
|
Kidman, The Forgotten King
by Jill Bowen
We have not as yet had the opportunity to read
this title, but as you might gather from our short profile of Kidman
above, we do believe him to be a significant Australian who is now
unjustly forgotten (or deliberately ignored) by many of our
historians, teacher and other opinion makers. Therefore we will read
this title when time allows and post a short review on this page.
|