I, the Aboriginal by Douglas Lockwood (1980) – Illustrated by Ainslie Roberts | Alawa Biography

Author:
Douglas Lockwood
Illustrator: Ainslie Roberts
Publisher: Adelaide: Rigby, 1980 (First published 1962)
ISBN: 9780727013651
Format: Hardcover, 200 pages, colour illustrations and maps on endpapers
Condition: Good – light wear to dust jacket, internally clean

Description:
Winner of the 1962 Australian Book of the Year, I, the Aboriginal is the remarkable life story of Phillip Roberts (Waipuldanya), an Alawa man of the Roper River region in the Northern Territory. Told in the first person and written by journalist Douglas Lockwood, this biographical work provides an authentic and compelling insight into Aboriginal life, culture, and belief systems, as well as the challenges of navigating two worlds.

Enhanced by Ainslie Roberts' evocative illustrations, the book explores themes of spirituality, traditional law, music, kinship, and the impacts of leprosy and colonisation. This edition includes maps of the Top End and is a touchstone in Australian Indigenous biography and cultural storytelling.

Why You’ll Love It:
This landmark biography offers a deeply personal account of Aboriginal cultural resilience and transformation in mid-20th century Australia. It is essential reading for those interested in First Nations voices, Northern Territory history, and cultural heritage. A foundational title for both collectors and educators.