The Jerilderie Letter
Edward Kelly and Joe Byrne
First published 1950s Jerilderie and District Historical Society

Dictated by Ned Kelly, written by Joe Byrne. Available from the Ned Kelly Post Office at The Willows in Jerilderie, New South Wales. A must own!

The Book Of Keli
The Chronicles of the Kelly Pursuers
G W Hall
First published 1879

George Wilson Hall was the first Kelly expert, writing this tale at the time of the Kelly outbreak. It was written in code to puzzle and entertain a reading public fascinated by the Kelly hunt. While the police were pursuing the Kelly's with the sword, G.W.Hall was pursuing both with his pen.

Kellyana
A Bibliographical Look at the Ned Kelly Legend
Brian McDonald
First published 2001 by Brian McDonald

Continuing on from his impressive report in our Writings section, McDonald has complied an exhaustive Kellyana resource, which includes a massive book and comic listing and even the mention of a Kelly based computer game. This is mandatory reading for every serious Kelly buff. The booklet is available to buy over the counter at the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Stand And Deliver!
100 Australian Bushrangers
Allan M Nixon
First published 1991 by Lothian Books

Stand and Deliver! documents the wild, mad and bad exploits of 100 bushrangers, producing fresh evidence about the most notorious including the Kelly's, and previously unpublished facts about less well-known but equally colourful characters like the cannibal Thomas Jeffries. It records over a century of bushranging exploits, the last entries include Isaiah “Wild” Wright who was still in trouble with the law in 1900, twenty years after Ned was hanged.

Ned Kelly
Lyn Innes
First published 2008 by Helm Information

While we've seen this cover on numerous other books, and the information inside has been garnered from other publications (including our beloved Australian Son by Max Brown), overall the entire package is well researched and cleverly set out. For the curious student of history this is a good read, but for the serious Kelly buff I'm loath to recommend you buy it – mainly due to the fact that it's priced at £38 (that's about 90 Australian dollars!).

Link: Icons Of Modern Culture

Bound For Judgement
An outlaw's story in verse
A.D. Crichton
First published 2006 by Boolarong Press

While I'm not a big fan of poetry (not many Star Wars books are written in verse), the author of this particular subject, Alan Crichton, has done an impressive job. There are thousands of words here written with passion and vigour. The book also features a number of illustrations by Bruce Mercer. So for anyone looking for the life of Ned Kelly presented in verse then this is a must own book.

Bail Up!
A Pictorial History of Australia's Most Notorious
Bushrangers featuring The Ned Kelly Story
Geoff Hocking
First published 2002 by Five Mile Press

No, this book wasn’t written by Nicky Cowie of bailup.com (although I'm sure she could have quite easily) but by a Mr Geoff Hocking who also did a splendid job with the design and layout — reminiscent of McMenomy’s latest offering. Even though it leans heavily on the Ned Kelly story (well, he does sell books) the pages are still full of bushrangers, robbers and villains of every elk. Hocking has further added to a genre best represented by previous authors like Alan Nixon’s Stand and Deliver!: 100 Australian Bushrangers and Nunn, Wannan and Prior’s A Pictorial History of Bushrangers. Buy it, read it, just not too closely...

The Kelly Gang
The Last of the Bushrangers
Geoff Hocking
First published 2004 by Five Mile Press

Author Geoff Hocking has extracted the large Ned Kelly section from his previous book Bail Up! (see above) and re-presented it in this student orientated format, which does a good job in introducing the Kelly story — although minor errors prevent it from being a must read.

A Pictorial History Of Bushrangers
Nunn, Wannan and Prior
First published 1966 by Lansdowne Press

This book is a fascinating insight into the main players of Australian bushranging history. It is both well written and researched, not only covering the Kelly era but also that of Ben Hall, Matt Brady, and Daniel “Mad Dog” Morgan to name a few. Keep an eye out for a copy at second hand book stores.

Framing Ned Kelly
Paintings by Sidney Nolan 1945 - 47
Sidney Nolan and Louise Martin-Chew
First published 1992 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

The paintings are a magnificent, 5 out of 5 but the narration that goes with it is incredibly ordinary. I hope this was written for children as an introduction to the works of Sidney Nolan, otherwise Ms Martin-Chew must think we are all artistic morons.

Ellen Kelly
An Historical Novel as told by Ellen Kelly
Dagmar Balcarek
First published 1984 by Glen Rowen Cobb & Co

Full marks for the subject matter but only a few Neddies for the content. Written in a style closely resembling Ned and Joe’s Jerilderie Letter (either by design or accident), the idea to retell Ellen’s story could have been quite fascinating. I guess it still leaves the door wide open for another attempt. And if you are serious about selling a book get a professional to design the front cover!

Australian Bushrangers
The Romance of Robbery
Sacha Molitorisz
First published 1998 by Murray David Publishing

What a rubbish title. Exactly what “romance” can be found in being robbed? I found this in a $5 or less bin at a local bookstore. It probably should have been in the recycle bin instead because all the information contained within it's pages have been said before. I wonder if Ms Molitorisz's really believed she was furthering the debate on nineteenth century Australian bushranging, or was she just after a quick buck? Either way, this book should have stayed in China where it was printed.

Australia's Greatest Folk Hero
King Crawford
First published 1993 by Crawford & Crawford

"Exactly what is the purpose of this book?" That is exactly what I thought, after a friend handed me a copy they had found in a discount bin. It is a collection of poems and songs arranged to highlight the plight of the Kelly Gang. If you must read any of it check out the foreword “...the Kelly Gang was very much alive in the minds of the people, so much so that the variance of emotional reaction over 113 years since these events, remain huge. We were even threatened in the Street to leave it alone...” It’s a pity they didn't heed the warning!

Bushrangers Heroes Or Villains
Edgar Penzig F.A.I.H.A.
First published 1998 by Tranter Enterprises

God this is awful. As a rule, self-publishers are a vain lot and Mr Penzig is no exception, even going as far as having his picture adorn the cover. Penzig is an outright apologist for the police. From Ben Hall to Ned Kelly, he neatly labels all bushrangers as villains. A simple approach from a simple man. Penzig’s writing is naive and child like. As an example, take the following passage pulled from page 182:

“In Australia, where Democracy reigns, the laws are made by the people for the people. With this in mind the reader will realize that the roll of the police force in any state is to see that these laws are kept and not broken. They are duty bound to enforce these existing laws until they are changed by parliament because of public or party petition. Therefore it is completely useless for members of the populace to attack the police because they disagree with some current law”.

Ignoring the poor grammar, and bad spelling, that insightful paragraph is simply pathetic. I'm sure the SS were only following orders! Penzig is either an historical midget, unaware of events such as Myall Creek, or he is a man whose ego truly outstrips his supposed abilities. By condoning the ruthless tactics of the police forces of 19th century Australia he also condones the mass slaughter of hundreds of Aborigines at the hands of these men in uniform. Not surprisingly, Penzig makes no mention of the civilian deaths at Glenrowan caused by the reckless shooting by police. And what is it with the initials F.A.I.H.A. after his name? Well he wouldn’t have the brain to finish a History degree — nothing like giving yourself an honorary title.