BRAZENLY PURE – the truth and beauty of Tasmania

(August 2012)

A beautiful book celebrating wild Tasmania through the perspectives of poetry, photography, kids drawings and essays. Full page wilderness photography, and specialist identification photos of birds and plants complements the accessible informative essays. Children’s art done in response to the poetry adds purity and optimism to the production. Proudly printed in Tasmania and produced by 40 Degrees South Publishing in both soft and hard cover.

…Rees Campbell’s collection of poetry and photographs takes us into the mood, mystique and natural magic of Tasmania. Its beauty, truth and cycles of life and death, as nature ordained but we humans reconfigure and erode.

.. From Bob Brown’s foreword
This book is a ramble through and around the island, stopping at various wild places that take the eye. .. inspired by the rocks of Maatsuyker Island to the beach at Three Hummock Island, via Cradle Mountain, the fauna of the central highlands, the expanse of sand at Montagu, a glimpse of something in the Tarkine.

Bob Brown writes that “Brazenly Pure is a book of little gems sprinkled in the wind for our enjoyment”. This is an apt description; it is a celebration of wild Tasmania through a range of interesting perspectives; poetry, photography, children’s art and knowledge.
The book features evocative and insightful wilderness poems inspired by Tasmania’s mountains, coastlines, islands and inhabitants. Most are by the author; but also contributions by others including Pete Hay. The poems are overlaid on photographs relevant to the poem – from the craggy rocks at Maatsuyker Island to the animal prints in the sand of Three Hummock Island. Many photos are breathtakingly beautiful, such as the reflection of the moon in the upper reaches of the Arthur River; and waratah blossoms filled with snow at Cradle Mountain. The whole book is redolent with awe of our precious and fragile natural world.
Local school children responded with art to hearing the poetry, which brings a sense of wonder to the book, and underlines the awareness and conservation message inherent. Information and identification photos of birds, plants and animals follow each poem which serves to add knowledge to the depth of our appreciation of the natural environment.
Proudly published and printed here in Tasmania, this beautiful production is both a coffee table delight, and a valuable information resource. It is ideal for those visiting Tasmania, and for those who already hold it dear. “…Learn and love Tasmania though these pages…”

I still have a few boxes of this book, so contact me directly on reescampbell1@gmail.com to purchase. I’m happy to do further bulk discounts for educational purposes.