One of very few books written from a sympathetic perspective at a time when most white writers lacked the experience or understanding to tackle stories about Aborigines. Not only a fast-moving tale about heroism but also an important document recording the social and ethical relationships between black and white Australians. Author 'Jack' Idriess was born in 1891 and served in the Fifth Light Horse in the First World War. He returned to Australia to write The Desert Column, which was published following his huge success with Prospecting for Gold. He went on to write 56 books.