This volume investigates the foundational role of Charles Harpur in the development of an authentic Australian poetic voice during the mid-19th century. Editor Michael Ackland presents a curated selection of Harpur's verse and prose to demonstrate his engagement with colonial politics, the natural landscape, and the struggle for intellectual independence. By contextualizing these works, the text argues that Harpur served as a critical bridge between European literary traditions and the emerging identity of a new nation.

Scholars and literary historians regard this selection as a vital resource for understanding the origins of Australian colonial literature. The editorial work is frequently cited for its clarity and its success in making Harpur's dense, period-specific prose accessible to modern readers.