Original folder titled 'Captives, actors, those in charge (Notes for 4th Draft)', typescript, undated.

Original folder titled '5th Draft : Blue Bread & Sapphires', typescript draft, with handwritten amendments, undated. On the original folder were the following notes: 'A substantial reward is offered for the return of this manuscript [Phone numbers and addresses for Peter Carey in NSW and Qld and University of Queensland Press'; and 'Every author ought to write every book as if he were going to be beheaded the day he finished it. - Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise'.]

The first working title for The unusual life of Tristan Smith was 'Inside the mouse' and the second was 'The Dog, The Duck and The Mouse' (also known as 'Dog, Duck, Mouse'). It was first published in 1994 in Australia by University of Queensland Press and in the United Kingdom by Faber & Faber. The book was written with two sections: Book 1 'My life in Efica' (Chapters 1-58) and Book 2 'Travels in Voorstand' (Chapters 1-56).This subseries includes drafts, complete and incomplete, with details of drafts and versions in the footers of most. Drafts are mainly computer printouts with handwritten emendations, extensive on some drafts; also included are printouts of Carey's computer directory giving details of files which indicate his work schedule. Some folders of 5th and 6th draft material have interleaved sheets of handwritten notes by Alison Summers. The unusual life of Tristan Smith was winner of the Age Book of the Year Award in 1994.

'Inside the mouse' was the first working title for The unusual life of Tristan Smith. These drafts are from 1991 and 1992.

'The dog, the duck, the mouse' (also known as 'The dog, the duck and the mouse' and 'Dog, Duck, Mouse') was the working title for The unusual life of Tristan Smith. These drafts are for the 3rd to 6th, from 1992 and 1993. Some are without a title page, some are incomplete and some have handwritten emendations and notes (typescript and handwritten).

Typescript drafts 6 and 7 of the novel, and complete copies of final manuscript, with print out dates and chapter/draft numbers in the footer.

Correspondence with Faber & Faber and University of Queensland Press. Includes faxes and handwritten notes mostly regarding The unusual life of Tristan Smith, some about Collected stories and other stories, 30 Dec 1993 to 19 May 1994 and undated. Includes handwritten notes (from Alison Summer's?) regarding The Big Bazoohley.

Personal interest items and research materials for The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith: newspaper and magazine cuttings, brochures, information about pigeon breeding and racing and about birth defects.

Copy edited manuscript returned to Peter Carey with a letter by Emma Platt of Faber and Faber, 24 May 1995; and a fax from Carey to Charles Boyle of Faber and Faber, with a list of changes, 16 Mar 1994.

Complete and incomplete drafts of Peter Carey's first children's book The big bazoohley.