Eric Swann was a highly skilled bushman and pastoralist in the outback areas of Australia. In Before the West he tells the story of his early childhood, as the eldest of 13 children, in western NSW. The story then moves to western Queensland where he spent many years as a jackaroo, overseer and then manager of various pastoral properties. He brings to life the many colourful characters who were to contribute so much to the development of his skills...