Edward (Ned) Kelly
In February 1879, Ned Kelly and his gang held up the Bank of New South Wales at Jerilderie and presented this letter, which articulated a defence of Kelly's actions, for publication in the Jerilderie and Urana Gazette. Although the words were Ned's, the letter was penned by Joe Byrne, whose handwriting was deemed the neatest of the four. In the absence of the newspaper's editor, the 56-page document was accepted on his behalf by Edwin Richard Living, the bank's accountant. The letter was not published at the time and its contents were not made public until the late 1940s.
Despite limited education, Kelly used the written word and a uniquely potent turn of phrase to articulate his claims of innocence and to plead for justice for his family and the poor Irish selectors of north-eastern Victoria.
Peter Carey, the well-known Victorian author, drew much inspiration from the Jerilderie Letter. After reading a transcript of the letter in the 1960s, the seed of True History of the Kelly Gang was truly planted. Carey went on to research heavily at the State Library, publishing the novel in 2000 and winning the 2001 Booker Prize.
Two pages from the original letter will be travelling on tour. All 56 pages of the Jerilderie Letter can be viewed online as part of the Library's Treasures collection. The Library also holds the original armour worn by Ned Kelly. |
