Norman Lindsay, author of The Magic Pudding

Born in Victoria, Australia in 1879, Norman Lindsay became one 
of Australia's most celebrated artists. From the time he began 
working at The Bulletin in Sydney in 1902 he was a controversial 
figure. Sometimes his works were removed from galleries, or hung 
facing the wall. The public loved it and Lindsay's reputation as a 
free thinker grew. He was the subject of John Duigan's 1994 film 
SIRENS - portrayed by Sam Neill, who now lends his voice to 
THE MAGIC PUDDING's penguin character Sam Sawnoff.

Throughout his long life Lindsay produced oil paintings, 
watercolours and etchings and for relaxation built ship models and 
fashioned sculpture for his garden. The Lindsay family, in 
conjunction with The National Trust, ensure his work is available 
for all to view at The Lindsay Gallery in the Blue Mountains, New 
South Wales, Australia.

The Magic Pudding was written in 1918, in response to a bet that 
children were more interested in food than fairies. The Magic 
Pudding has not been out of print since, and has been translated 
into 20 languages around the world.

The Magic Pudding provides wonderful characterisations of 
Australian bush culture - a classic tale of those who have and those 
who have not. The story unites eclectic characters from different 
backgrounds in the unique bond that is the sharing (or stealing) of 
food. It's also a great adventure as the villains pursue the members 
of The Noble Society of Pudding Owners, trying to take possession 
of Albert - The Magic Pudding, who is constantly running away 
but who never runs out.

Norman Lindsay died in 1969 but his popularity continues. Art 
collectors pay thousands of dollars to add a painting or etching to 
their collections. Every institution in Australia holds works by him, 
including the State Library of New South Wales which has a major 
collection of etching proofs as well as the original manuscript of 
The Magic Pudding. Coinciding with the turn of the century, 
sculptures of the main characters from Lindsay's Magic Pudding 
were recently unveiled in the Royal Botanic Gardens of 
Melbourne.