The Secret Key, And Other Verses

George Essex Evans (1863 - 1909)

Born in London of Welsh parents, George Essex Evans was raised and educated by his mother Mary Ann (née Owen) in Pembrokeshire after she was widowed when George was only a few months old. Emigrating to Queensland with his siblings to Australia at age 17 with the intention of farming, Evans was badly injured in a horse-riding accident, when he was thrown against a tree and was unable to do any physical work.

Evans was described as a reserved man, and at times rather moody and impulsive. However, he was also described as a kind person and a loyal friend. He had a strong sense of honour and self-respect, traits that made him a model husband and father.

Evans was described as having a tremendous memory, particularly for poetic verse, of which he was able to recite a prodigious amount. Few of his contemporaries were able to match his breadth of knowledge of English, American, and Australian poetry.

Summary by Wikipedia

Genre(s): Poetry

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 The Secret Key Alan Mapstone
00:02:29
Play 02 An Australian Symphony Lynda Marie Neilson
00:05:08
Play 03 The Women of the West Wayne Cooke
00:02:59
Play 04 Ode for Commonwealth Day Lynda Marie Neilson
00:04:36
Play 05 The Nation Builders Wayne Cooke
00:04:38
Play 06 On The Plains Lynda Marie Neilson
00:04:30
Play 07 A Federal Song FrigidBones
00:01:35
Play 08 A Nocturne Andrew Gaunce
00:01:13
Play 09 The Dream Star Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:37
Play 10 The Song of Life! Lynda Marie Neilson
00:02:25
Play 11 The Lion's Whelps Soeun (Kelly) Park
00:01:59
Play 12 The Sword of Pain Larry Wilson
00:09:15
Play 13 A Pastoral Adrian Stephens
00:02:35
Play 14 Lux in Tenebris Adrian Stephens
00:06:32
Play 15 The Song of Gracia Rachel May
00:03:50
Play 16 Ad Astra Rachel May
00:05:40
Play 17 The Grey Road Adrian Stephens
00:01:47
Play 18 "But The Greatest of These is Charity" Paul Harvey
00:01:13
Play 19 Auri Sacra Fames Adrian Stephens
00:05:18
Play 20 The Spirit of Poetry Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:40
Play 21 Brunton Stephens Adrian Stephens
00:01:32
Play 22 Victoria Lynda Marie Neilson
00:01:57
Play 23 The Crown of Empire Alan Mapstone
00:04:53
Play 24 To The Irish Dead Lynda Marie Neilson
00:02:29
Play 25 Eland's River Alan Mapstone
00:03:00
Play 26 At The Base Hospital Alan Mapstone
00:02:32
Play 27 The Wayfarers Paul Harvey
00:01:47
Play 28 Cymru Alan Mapstone
00:07:54
Play 29 To A Bigot Lynda Marie Neilson
00:01:38
Play 30 Kara Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:13
Play 31 Out of the Silence Paul Harvey
00:02:15
Play 32 Altiora Peto Lynda Marie Neilson
00:04:04
Play 33 The Average Man Paul Harvey
00:02:10
Play 34 A Commonplace Song Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:56
Play 35 The Wheels of the System Lynda Marie Neilson
00:05:13
Play 36 By The Sea Alan Mapstone
00:02:09
Play 37 The Two Goblets Alan Mapstone
00:01:21
Play 38 The Doves of Venus Alan Mapstone
00:01:31
Play 39 Ode to the Philistines Alan Mapstone
00:03:59
Play 40 A Grave by the Sea Alan Mapstone
00:02:09
Play 41 The Land of the Dawning Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:40
Play 42 The Splendour and the Curse of Song Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:15
Play 43 Failure Cavaet
00:03:54
Play 44 The Dead Democrat Lynda Marie Neilson
00:01:33
Play 45 Toowoomba Lynda Marie Neilson
00:02:04
Play 46 A Vision of Christ Larry Wilson
00:02:01
Play 47 The Plains Wayne Cooke
00:01:55
Play 48 The Master FrigidBones
00:03:10
Play 49 In Collins Street Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:18
Play 50 In A Garden Wayne Cooke
00:00:56
Play 51 Welcome Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:11
Play 52 William Henry Groom Lynda Marie Neilson
00:02:43
Play 53 Australia Wayne Cooke
00:02:31
Play 54 John Farrell Lynda Marie Neilson
00:01:51
Play 55 To The Unknown God Wayne Cooke
00:01:07
Play 56 Riches Andrew Gaunce
00:00:58
Play 57 Thomas Joseph Byrnes Lynda Marie Neilson
00:01:48
Play 58 Adrift Lynda Marie Neilson
00:02:43
Play 59 Seddon Alan Mapstone
00:01:58
Play 60 Morning Land Lynda Marie Neilson
00:02:26
Play 61 Loraine, Part I Lynda Marie Neilson
00:14:17
Play 62 Loraine, Part II Lynda Marie Neilson
00:10:59
Play 63 Loraine, Part III Lynda Marie Neilson
00:14:38
Play 64 Loraine, Part IV Lynda Marie Neilson
00:12:46