The Dawn of Time

Book excerpt: This book is a companion to THE DREAMTIME, one of the greatest Australian publishing successes with over one million copies sold in Australia alone. The original concept of the paintings was developed by an association between Ainslie Roberts and Charles Mountford, well known for his anthropological work among the Aboriginal peoples. They had made extensive tours through remote outback regions, and the resulting potent imagery bridged cultural gulfs, making Australians more aware of the Aboriginal sense of sacredness in all things. THE DAWN OF TIME is once more accompanied by myths interpreted by Mr Mountford. In this book, all the paintings are reproduced in full colour, with black and white drawings which also illustrate the myths, and like its predecessor it is a unique contribution to Australian art and literature and a genuine record of Aboriginal mythology.