The Australian Race

the long version

The author provided an explanation for writing the book (in four volumes). In the introduction, Curr explained the prime motive behind his research: "As raison d’être for this publication then, it may be pointed out that when the author drifted into his undertaking, many tribes were passing away, leaving no record behind them, and no one seemed likely to step in and do what was necessary for ethnology." Letter to the Argus