I am intrigued that a reviewer suggests that Australia was a better environment for European fairies and
that they had migrated for a better life.
‘It may be mentioned that it has
transpired that the fairies were so much disturbed, during the last 50 years,
by iron railways and ploughing in the Old Country that they left it for
Australia, and it is told in the most interesting and simple language how much
good they did in this country’ (Australian Fairy Tales, Australian Town and Country Journal 1879:16).
Recognition
of the merit of Australian fairytales by the Australian public was certainly indicated by the presentation to the
Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall, on a tour of Australia in 1901, of a casket
containing twelve Australian books for their children. Five of the twelve books
were fairytales or fantasy: Fairy
Stories, by Charles L. Marson; Australian
Fairy Tales, by Atha Westbury; Spirit
of the 'Bush Fire, by J. M. Whitfield; Australian
Wonderland, by A.A.B. and Helmac and Dot
and the Kangaroo, by Ethel C. Pedley (Thoughtful Children, The Advertiser,
1901:10).
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