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Ethel Turner (1872-1958) is also known by name Ethel Curlewis. She published her first book Seven Little Australians in 1894. It has since been translated into ten languages, in 1915 made into a stage play, in 1939 a film, in 1953 it was televised in Britain and in 1973 and 1975 by the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

Ethel Turner was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England on 24th January, 1872. She migrated to Australia with her widowed mother, older sister Lilian and step sister, Jeannie in 1880. Educated at Sydney Girls’ High School, she and Lilian wrote stories and edited magazines - first the Iris and then the Parthenon. The Parthenon came out monthly and sold for sixpence a copy, generally selling about 1500 copies per month. Both sisters used pseudonyms to give the impression that the various sections of the magazine were written by a number of contributors, whilst in reality the two sisters did all the writing themselves.  In 1890 Ethel began writing children's stories.

By the age of 22, Ethel Turner had Seven Little Australians accepted and published by Ward Lock. Interviewed by Life magazine ten years later she related ‘How I wrote Seven Little Australians’. The sequel Family at Misrule was published in 1895; the next in the series Little Mother Meg in 1902 and Judy and Punch, the story of Judy’s time away at boarding school, in 1928.

Little Mother Meg

This Ward, Lock & Co 12mo hardcover edition is in a good condition consistent with age and includes a dust jacket. No date is evident, the previous owners name is on the front endpaper. Life ripples on like a river at Misrule, but the sun doesn't shine on the neighbouring house, and a hole in the fence leads Peter and Essie to a closely guarded secret. AU$25.00

The Family At Misrule

This Ward, Lock & Co 12mo decorative cloth hardcover edition was published in London. It is assumed it was published early 1920's and is a First edition. There is no dust jacket, despite a small spilt in top of spine this book is in a good condition consistent with age. AU$20.00

Three Little Maids

This Ward, Lock & Co 16mo red cloth hardcover edition was published in London.  First published in 1900, in Three Little Maids Turner freely drew on her own life experiences to create one of her frank and largely unsentimental tales of Australian life. There is no dust jacket, despite a small spilt in top of spine this book is in a good condition consistent with age, despite the previous owners name being found inside the front endpaper. AU$20.00

The Cub

This particular Decorative cloth edition was published in Sydney by Ure Smith in 1978. It is illustrated throughout by Roger Jovansky. Also published as The Cub: Six Months in his Life: A Story in War-Time overall a nice clean copy despite some marks on front endpapers AU$15.00

The Little Larrikin

This Ward, Lock & Co 12mo orange cloth hardcover edition was published in London and is assumed to be 1950's edition that includes a dust-jacket.  It has light wear along spine edges, contents clean and tight throughout. AU$15.00

The Camp at Wandinong

This particular 16mo decorative cloth edition was published in Sydney by Ure Smith in 1978. It is illustrated throughout by Genevieve Rees.  It has light wear along spine edges, contents clean and tight throughout. 264 pages with many full-page black & white sketches. AU$15.00