Ned Kelly-Australian Bushrangers Book Reviews

Books 0n The Kelly's || Other Bushrangers || Other Criminals

Minutes of Evidence taken before the Royal Commission on the Police Force of Victoria 1881
1968 Facsimile Edition

A book this good deserves it's own page

An 1881 First Edition has recently been offered on eBay for over $25,000 AUD! This second 1968 Edition, If you can find one, expect to pay over $500AUD.While there are many excellent books available regarding the Kelly Gang, Nothing will ever come near this book!
When it comes to collecting books on The Kelly Gang, I can't advise enough, that this is the book to begin with!
I have Edition Number 170 for sale click here for details

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Ned Kelly - Australian Son
Max Brown

Max Brown's Australian Son was first published in 1948. Unfortunately, Max passed away last year but with this book, He left behind a professionally researched work that included interviews with Kelly descendents. Make sure you own it!

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Ned Kelly - A Short Life
Ian Jones

The most accurate book to date regarding the Kelly Outbreak. Ian Jones has to be considered Australia's leading expert regarding the Kelly's. Jones would be the only author that has the right to make an informed guess because of his knowledge. Jones has studied Ned's adventures for over fifty years. This is quite simply 'the' book regarding the Kelly outbreak. A lot of information regarding this website has come from Ian's book, for which I thank the author / historian immensely.

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The Fatal Friendship
Ian Jones

The story of Joe Byrne and Aaron Sherrit...
At $35 AUD I must admit, I wasn't very impressed from the bookshop to home. The first thing I noticed about Ian Jones 'Fatal Friendship', re -hash, was the splendid hand drawn map of the Woolshed in the back cover...
I wish I could say the same about the first 3 or 6 chapters. As usual, Ian's research shines like a light regarding Kelly history, but ya can't get the feeling, the middle of this book is like the missing chapters of 'A Short Life'. There's not a thing worse than reading the same old tired story 'but in different words'...

I've never really been a big fan of Joe or Aaron...
Joe Byrne was a violent opium addicted thug, who was, yes, creative with the pen and an extremely loyal mate to Ned Kelly, but had a very selfish and violent streak towards him (can you imagine murdering your best friend?, no matter what the circumstance?)
Yet he showed remarkable courage in other areas.
He seems to have turned his back on the family
His mothers own words...
"He's made his bed... Let him lie in it"...

And as far as his sister letting a few horses slip the yard, and receiving a strap across the face, any thinking person wouldn't wouldn't go near this in a fit!

Aaron Sherrit... Police dog and scoundrel. In Ian's own words:
'Sherrit died an informers death, in a house bought by Police money, wearing clothes given to him by a detective... Even his funeral was payed for by Police'

'My Boy Tommy'

The name 'Sherrit still rings in the Kelly Country to this day!
It's not a bad book, there's a mine of information on the Byrnes and Sherrits.

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NED KELLY - THE AUTHENTIC ILLUSTRATED STORY
Keith McMenomy

This is the book that encouraged me to learn the Kelly Story. The original 1980 release is now quite sort after, selling for around $90AUD.
I'll never forget the day I found it in Southport library, stashed away at the back of a shelf. It's absolutely loaded with authentic photographs of the time and a ton of information!
If you can find it , Buy it, Borrow it, or even Bloody steal it !... it's that good !

My 2002 Authentic Illustrated Story...
Autographed by Chopper Read! (Keith would have a fit!)

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"Stand and Deliver" 100 Australian Bushrangers 1789-1901
Allan.M.Nixon

This is an excellent read, has a wealth of information and pictures regarding 100 of Australia's most infamous Bushrangers. Allan's put a lot of time and research into this book and it shows!
Covering all of Australia's major Bushrangers including: The Kelly's, Mad Dog Morgan, Captain Thunderbolt and Ben Hall just to name a few - Great Book!

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True History of the Kelly Gang
Peter Carey

Apparently, the Author was presented with the Booker prize (and a decent sized cheque) for this work of nonsense. Every time I open this book I'm confronted with Carey's fantasy of The Kelly Gang wearing dresses!
This book is fiction and should be treated as such, It's no wonder the new Ned Kelly movie is so inaccurate when it's based on this sort of rubbish and that other load of crap 'Our Sunshine' by Robert Drewe

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Ned and the Others
Garry Dean and Dagmar Balcarek

This book is an absolute beauty! I even rate is as up there with Ian Jones 'Short Life"! The book goes into excellent detail and the research stands out ! I find myself reading this book again and again...get it here

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Ellen Kelly
Dagmar Balcarek

The life of Ellen Kelly has never been documented. Dagmar has written a creative portrayal of life through the eyes of Mrs Kelly - a must have for any Kelly fan! Available through Gary Dean's online Gift Shop.

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Harry Power - Tutor of Ned Kelly
Gary Dean & Kevin Passey

An outstanding account of the life and crimes of the Notorious Bushranger Harry Power, extremely well written with a wealth of pictures and information on the old scoundrel! Thanks go to Gary Dean for my signed copy!
Available here

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The Inner History of the Kelly Gang
J.J Kenneally

Ned's brother Jim Kelly on this book:
"As an effective exterminator of the hive of journalistic wasps, your book would have been a great consolation to my dear mother, If it had been published before her death. I regret that my mother is not alive to see her family so completely vindicated by your book.
Wishing that your book will be found in every Australian home - Jim Kelly"
I have a 4th edition copy of Mr Kenneally's famous book, its worth its weight in gold!

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Saint Ned
Keith Dunstan

I just picked up this book from ebay and it's definitely up there with the better books on the Kelly story. Nice section and pictures towards the end of the book on the Kelly Scene in the late 1970's - 1980's
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Ned Kelly's Last Stand
Frank Clune

Frank Clunes writing style gives me the shits...
If ya see this one available, or any of his other works...
Keep it under $10!

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Ned Kelly and the days of the Bushrangers

I found this old magazine on eBay and although the cover is a bit suspect (Ned hiding behind a tree blazing away with a bloke either dead or out cold from the booze next to him) Highly inaccurate and at times very anti-Ned. Published by Southdown Press.
This old magazine is bloody magnificent! Price of 2/6 (It cost me a bit more than that).

A wasted life...

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The trial of Ned Kelly
John H. Phillips

Excellent book! John explores the Trial and examines the evidence which results in what we all know... Ned was wronged and innocents jailed.
A must have for any Kelly Collector.

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Recollections of a Victorian Police Officer
John Sadlier

Not a bad book considering it was written by that lazy scoundrel Sadlier. This is a 1970 facsimile edition in paperback and definitely recommended to the serious Kelly Collector. Lots of eyewitness accounts regarding the Kelly Outbreak with Supt. Sadlier funnily enough... always coming up smelling like roses.

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Kellyana - A Bibliographical Look at the Legend Of Ned Kelly
Brian McDonald

This magnificent reference is written by leading Sydney Historian/Author Brian McDonald.
Luckily, Brian is a good mate of mine and his wealth of knowledge, his unsurpassed help and advice has helped me with my Kellyana collection!
This Book is available from the Old Melbourne Gaol and it is an absolute MUST if your a collector in Kelly books!
If you can't get to the OMG, email me and I'll pass on details how to order it.

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NSW 1863 Government Gazette

click here to see the Gazette

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There's many, many books on Bushrangers and the Kelly Gang
If you need any Information, how much to pay for books, or if I can help in any way with your collection

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