Author(s): Alan Marshall

Biography / Memoir

This is the Grass is Alan Marshall's moving sequel to the much-loved Australian classic I Can Jump Puddles. First published in 1962, it tells the story of Marshall's adolescence, as he searches for work amid the rough and tumble of 1920s Melbourne. From Wallaby Creek in Donvale Shire where he boards with hard-drinking bushmen, to the slums of East Melbourne, his recollections bring to life a cast of colourful characters, each with his private tragedy. His narrative, encompassing the lived experience of ordinary men and women, is infused with Marshall's deep sense of humanity. Like its famous prequel, This is the Grass is a book of immense courage, conveying rich insights into little-known aspects of Australia's past.