A CRITICAL BIOGRAPHY OF EDWIN JAMES BRADY - Mallacoota ...

Actually Brady did not need Gould’s advice about staying in Australia as he was
never anxious to go overseas, despite the stringencies he faced in Australian
publishing and journalism, mainly because of a firmly grounded belief that writers
should support their own country. He considered indigenous literature an important
aspect of national development and could be produced only by close contact with the
physical and social milieu. And because of the democratic nature of the Australian
society, its idealism and its sense of newness, he considered it could provide a culture
in many ways superior to the somewhat outworn scene in Europe. Commenting on
Percy Spence’s attempts to break into the London market as an illustrator, Brady
stated that “Murky Britain, hectic Europe or clamorous America are well enough for
gaining lf laurels but in the end out native eucalyptus proves a fairer tree”. 1
But despite this nationalistic idealism, he was becoming descouraged with life in
general – with his literary output, his political activities and with city life in particular,
with its hurry and bustle. In consequence in 1895 he bought a ten acre farm at Bosley
Park, out of Liverpool, to which he moved, living in a slab hut until he could build
himself a more substantial dwelling. It might well be that the element of escapism
which was a constituent of th mature Brady was operating at this time, but he found
that this change was not the answer to his restlessness of spirit. He felt too far remove
in one sense from the city (especially for the purpose of conducting any business) yet
not far enough removed to gain any resuscitation of the spirit or mind which he was
later to obtain at Mallacoota. The move was, in short, not a good one. A sense of
doubt about the translation of a city man into a kind of city-country limbo was
expressed in a verse written a little later for The Bulletin, the last stanz of which
suggests:
…The moral plain, most pertinent it seems;
Let city men keep city ways, and not indulge in dreams!
A ledger is a ledger, aye, a farm’s for farming, and
There’s trouble on ten-acre blocks for clerks in Cumberland! 2
Brady returned to Annandale, although he was much aware of the disadvantages of
suburban existence. “Cities have only a transient appeal for me. Always lure of Bush
and call of Sea have drawn me from noisy streets, regimented buildings and
stereotyped crowds.” 3
It was at this time (1896) that Brady was editing The Arrow. This general literary,
social and sporting magazine had begun life as The Dead Bird, later changed its name
to Bird-o’-Freedom and then to The Arrow. The return therefore meant a re-entry into
the cultural life of the city. Lawson and Quinn visited him regularly for a Friday
evening “symposium” where literature was discussed and latest compositions of the
three considered. Brady composed the title poem of The Ways of Many Waters and
many other verses, songs and sea chanties under these conditions, but through them
all ran a note of regret.
1 Brady’s Autograph Letters 1891 – 1918 in Mitchell Library
2 “Jackson’s Fame”, The Bulletin, 15.4.1909
3 Life’s Highway, Southerly, No. 4 1954. P 280
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