A Lost glitter : letters between South Australia and the Western Australian goldfields, 1895-1897 – edited by Michael R. Best.
A Lost Glitter by Michael R Best
A Lost Glitter is the most richly detailed first-hand account of goldfields’ life we have:
The letters of the Deland family between the Western Australian goldfields and Gawler contrast the rumbustious, economically chancy, life of the gold seekers and their support industries with the settled middle class life of South Australia. They tell us of the struggle to maintain the standards of civilisation amongst the exigencies of an insecure frontier existence.
The letters form, in effect, an explanatery novel. Each of the correspondents is literate and emerges as a distinct character. From the overall narrative of daily goldfields life two discrete tales take shape; that of the early success and ultimate failure of Campbell Deland’s bakery and that of the courtship of Effie Wyllie by Charles Deland. Besides being an invaluable social document A Lost Glitter is entertaining reading.
The letters are edited by Michael Best who is the grandson of Charles Deland and now teaches English at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.’
First Published in 1983 By Wakefield Press in SA – ISBN 0949 268 216
No out of print buy available in the WA Lib
Moya Sharp
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A LOST GLITTER differs in manner from the more usual history books but is up there with the best decriptions of life in the earliest times on these goldfields. I’ve relied on it in my articles on the Kanowna railway and other stories; there’s so much in there that won’t be found elsewhere.
The printing history says it was first published in 1986, not 1983, and I found my copy in 1993. Perhaps I missed it but I found no reference to where the family actually lived in SA so thanks for revealing it to be Gawler.
In perusing old pics of Hannan St in the vicinity of Hocking & Co I’ve seen the sign on the bakery owned by the brothers.
Hi Bernie Yes this book is a favorite of mine as well. I often fine the most wonderful stories in private family histories.
The Deland family is part of my family tree.