In literature, as in drawing, Mr Lindsay's art - beauties, wowsers, pirates, foul fiends, terrifying seniors - is a picture of the reveries of adolescence still in revolt against the taboos of the Victorian age.

"[2] In The Sydney Morning Herald, the reviewer found a lot to like about the book: "It is certain that Norman Lindsay will be accused of caricature but he merely exercises the artist's right to select and stress what he needs.

The underlying note of seriousness and wisdom is likely to be missed by careless readers, because the general tone is buoyant and optimistic and because the novel leaves us with the impression that the world is a pretty good place in which to live.

The television mini-series, of three parts, was directed by Alan Burke, from a script by Barbara Vernon, and featured Ruth Cracknell, Penne Hackforth-Jones, Judy McBurney and Patrick Ward.

"[4] The executive producer was Alan Burke who said: In 20 years of television I can't think of anything I've enjoyed more... We have followed the novels fairly closely, particularly the illustrations.

Jane, who sat alongside him while he was writing The Cousin From Fiji, made available to us a lot of unpublished drawings which we have used as backgrounds to the titles.