Adam in Ochre

by Colin Simpson

Stories gleaned from an expedition to Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory, one of the last bastions of Aboriginal culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, Australia, History

221 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

(Edwin) Colin Simpson, author. After leaving school, Colin Simpson worked in advertising before becoming a journalist. He was also a proficient writer of verse. His long poem 'Infidelities' was included in Trio(1931) with poems from Kenneth Slessor and Harley Matthews. But he is, perhaps, better-known in the history of Australian poetry as the Sydney Sun journalist who broke the story of the Ern Malley Hoax.Simpson joined the ABC in 1947 to write travel documentaries, an occupation that prepared him for his successful career as a freelance writer of popular travel books. In addition to these publications, Simpson also published the novel Come Away, Pearler (1952). He was for some time the Vice-president of the Australian Society of Authors and he was instrumental in securing the Public Lending Right legislation for Australian authors. For his services to Australian literature, he was made OBE in 1981

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simpson writes about an expedition he was involved in the late 1940s to Kakadu and the Tiwi islands. The book is an easy read and gives a great insight into the Indigenous tribes that still called Arnhem Land home. His respect for them and those that love them is obvious although the language does reflect that of the time, however not once was it meant as derogatory unless he’s quoting someone else.

I was lent this book by a friend who knew my interest in other cultures. I had the 2nd addition published in 1952 so I thought it would reflect the poor views of that time but I was pleasantly surprised. Simpson writes with a great affection and understanding of the northern tribes and some of his comments aimed at the psychologists and government bodies at the time would have been quite controversial if not insulting. A good read.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colin Simpson deserves greater respect for the writing of this book than he perhaps received in his lifetime. While he is writing as an amateur in matters paleontological and ethnological, he has nevertheless produced a work of interest for laymen and scholars interested in this, possibly the most vital of Aboriginal regions and communities. Arnhem Land is still closed to day in 2012, and the geography has a great deal to do with it. Simpson takes us deep inside at a time when the rule of Aboriginal law was still widely being applied, for better and for worse.