Ambrose Pratt – författare

Lyrebirds are native to Australia and were only scientifically documented in the late 18th Century and are still the subject of exhaustive study to this day. Their amazing calls and exceptional skills of mimicry have led them to becoming the subject of many tall tales, this is a well written guide to the real Lyrebird by a man who has been into the wild outback to find them. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Excerpt: "I was hard at work in my tent. I had almost completed translating the inscription of a small stele of Amen-hotep III, dated B. C., 1382, which with my own efforts I had discovered, and I was feeling wonderfully self-satisfied in consequence, when of a sudden I heard a great commotion without. Almost immediately the tent flap was lifted, and Migdal Abu''s black face appeared. He looked vastly excited for an Arab, and he rolled his eyes horribly. "What do you want?" I demanded irritably. "Did I not tell you I was not to be disturbed?" He bent almost double. "Excellency—a white sheik has come riding on an ass, and with him a shameless female, also white." "The dickens!" I exclaimed, for I had not seen a European for nine weeks. Migdal Abu advanced with hand outstretched. "Excellency, he would have me give you this." I took "this," and swore softly underbreath at the humourless pomposity of my unknown countryman. It was a pasteboard carte-de-visite. And we—in the heart of the Libyan desert! With a laugh I looked at the thing and read his name—"Sir Robert Ottley." "What!" I said, then sprang a-foot. Ottley the great Egyptologist. Ottley the famous explorer. Ottley the eminent decipherer of cuneiform inscriptions. Ottley the millionaire whose prodigality in the cause of learning had in ten short years more than doubled the common stock of knowledge of the history of the Shepherd kings of the Nile. I had been longing since a lad to meet him, and now he had come unasked to see me out on the burning sands of Yatibiri."

First Person Paramount" is a novel written by Ambrose Pratt, an Australian author, journalist, and naturalist. Published in 1911, the novel centers on the life and adventures of its protagonist, Horace Pringle, and is set against the backdrop of the Australian Outback. The story chronicles the difficulties and hardships that Horace Pringle faces while navigating the harsh Australian outback. The narrative effectively conveys the essence of the Outback by showcasing its rugged topography, distinctive flora and fauna, and the tenacity needed to thrive in such a hostile environment. As he faces the vast outdoors, Horace Pringle's character develops and changes on the inside. The story delves into themes of self-exploration, the conflict between nature and civilization, and the intricate interrelationships between people and their surroundings. Ambrose Pratt, who is well-known for his in-depth understanding of Australian flora and wildlife, adds naturalistic components to the story and gives evocative descriptions of the environment of the Outback.