This Is the Dreaming: Australian Aboriginal Legends

by Jean A. Ellis

Aboriginal peoples of Australia come alive in this charming collection of legends from the time before, the Dreaming.

Genres: Mythology

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Duncan]

Three stars max from me. I like to collect indigenous stories, and this collection has some good ones, but there are a few key problems.

First - it’s written in a very European (and slightly twee) voice, which detracts from the immersion more than a little.

Second - it repeatedly references indigenous culture as ‘other’ and of the past - something which has happily proven to be at least partially incorrect.

The tales are all PG, so fine to read to the kids, but for mine lacking in a genuine sympathy with indigenous cultural heritage. More a function of the times than a criticism of the author, of course.

[Mark Isaak]

A collection of Aboriginal folklore (mostly myth) from all around Australia. Ellis notes by name the tribe each story came from but does not give further information about informant or date recorded. The stories feel like they have been prettified to make them suitable for children. Clive Atkinson's art is very nice.