This work investigates the intersection of the Australian landscape and the cultural rhythms that define the nation across a calendar year. Les A. Murray, a prominent Australian poet and cultural observer, utilizes his deep familiarity with the continent's geography and social fabric to construct a seasonal narrative. The book functions as a descriptive survey, mapping the physical changes of the environment against the human activities and celebrations that mark the passage of time.

The text provides a lyrical and observational account of the Australian environment that reflects the author's distinct poetic sensibility. Its structure offers a comprehensive, if impressionistic, view of the country's seasonal transitions and cultural markers.