The Dreamtime: Australian Aboriginal Myths in Paintings

by Charles P. Mountford

1980, hardcover reprint edition (of a work first published in 1971), this is another title in the publisher's DreamTime Series, Rigby, Sydney, Australia. 80 pages. Beautifully printed work, with authoritative text and brilliant full-color illustrations by Ainslie Roberts. This book is the result of extensive painting tours through some of Australia's most remote Outback regions. "An important contribution to Australian art and literature."

79 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Charles Pearcy "Monty" Mountford OBE was an Australian anthropologist and photographer. He is known for his pioneering work on Indigenous Australians and his depictions and descriptions of their art. He also led the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land.

Mountford's written works, along with those by contemporaries, foreshadowed subsequent scholarly investigations like T.G.H. Strehlow's Journey to Horseshoe Bend (1969) and iconic late-20th-century works such as Stephen Muecke, Krim Benterrak, and Paddy Roe's Reading the Country: Introduction to Nomadology (1984).

Reviews

[Velvetink]

This series by Mountford and Roberts are beautifully illustrated with gorgeous haunting paintings. I have the original editions and the Dreamtime stories come from all over Australia.

[Hannah]

The paintings in this book are beyond stunning. I wish the myths were more elaborate as you simply get the bare bones of each one which leaves a sense of wanting more. However, it is a beautiful book and I would highly recommend it!

[Ulana]

This was an interesting book. It had myths of the Aborigines people and the painting done by Ainslie Roberts to illustrate the myths.

[Mitch]

These paintings by Ainslie Roberts are otherworldly. The retellings are good too.