Subject
Australia -- Fiction Books
Best books
Fergus Hume
Madame Midas
"Madame Midas" by Fergus Hume is a novel written in the late 19th century that explores themes of ambition, betrayal, and the consequences of wealth. The story opens with vivid descriptions of a desolate Australian coastline and introduces two men, one a cunning Frenchman and the other his mute companion, who have escaped from a French prison. Their arrival on this inhospitable land sets the stage for their pursuit of fortune, particularly in the context of gold mining, highlighting the desperate and often treacherous nature of their ambitions. The opening of "Madame Midas" presents a dramatic and atmospheric setting, introducing the characters in two parallel narrative arcs. Initially, we follow the escapees as they arrive at the Australian shores, driven by dreams of wealth and freedom. This is juxtaposed with the backstory of Robert Curtis’s daughter, Mrs. Villiers, who has rebuilt her life and achieved respectability as a gold mine owner after a tumultuous marriage. The stage is set for conflict as her estranged husband returns seeking to reclaim power over her, while new characters enter her life, indicating the intertwined fates driven by their aspirations and the quest for fortune that defines their existence in the gold-rush era of Australia.
Campbell Praed
Lady Bridget in the Never-Never Land: a story of Australian life
"Lady Bridget in the Never-Never Land: a story of Australian life" by Rosa Praed is a novel written in the early 20th century, specifically in the time leading up to and shortly after the establishment of the Australian Commonwealth. The story unfolds through the perspectives of various characters, primarily Mrs. Gildea and the titular Lady Bridget O'Hara, who navigate social and personal complexities against the backdrop of Australian life. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Mrs. Gildea, a widow and journalist, who reflects on her life while working in her comfortable home in Leichardt's Town. The garden surrounding her cottage is rich with Australian flora, setting a picturesque scene. As Mrs. Gildea engages with her work, she receives letters from Lady Bridget, who is embroiled in her own emotional turmoil revolving around matters of love and societal expectations. Lady Bridget's letters reveal her struggles with romantic interests, friendships, and her reluctance to conform to societal norms, indicating a deeper exploration of women's roles and desires during that era. The interactions amongst these characters suggest themes of idealism, the clash between different social classes, and the challenges of personal identity within a rapidly modernizing Australia.
Rolf Boldrewood
In Bad Company, and other stories
"In Bad Company, and other stories" by Rolf Boldrewood is a collection published in 1901. This volume gathers thirty-five stories and six non-fiction essays exploring Australia's frontier life. From bushrangers and drovers to gold miners and stock-riders, Boldrewood captures the raw, romantic episodes of early colonial existence. Many pieces appear in print for the first time, including autobiographical sketches that reveal the author's intimate knowledge of the Australian bush and its colorful characters.
Jules Verne
In Search of the Castaways; Or, The Children of Captain Grant
"In Search of the Castaways; Or, The Children of Captain Grant" by Jules Verne is a novel published in 1867–68. When a mysterious bottle reveals fragments of Captain Grant's location after his shipwreck, Lord and Lady Glenarvan embark on an extraordinary rescue mission with the captain's children. With only partial coordinates pointing to the 37th parallel south, they must circumnavigate the globe through South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Accompanied by an absent-minded French geographer and facing treacherous betrayals, the expedition races to solve cryptic clues and find the missing captain.
Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke
For the Term of His Natural Life
"For the Term of His Natural Life" by Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke is a novel published in 1874. Set in early colonial Australia, it follows Rufus Dawes, a young British aristocrat wrongly convicted of murder and transported to a brutal penal colony. Based on Clarke's research and visits to Port Arthur, the story depicts the harsh realities of convict life through a series of dramatic events involving betrayal, attempted escapes, and unlikely survival. The novel vividly portrays the inhumane treatment of prisoners in Australia's convict era.
Henry Kingsley
The Recollections of Geoffrey Hamlyn
"The Recollections of Geoffrey Hamlyn" by Henry Kingsley is a novel published in 1859. This sweeping chronicle follows three families—the Buckleys, Thorntons, and Brentwoods—across nearly eight decades, from 1780s Devon to colonial Australia. After rejected proposals and elopements drive characters from England, the families emigrate to New South Wales, settling as pastoralists in the Monaro district. The story spans generations, exploring fortunes made and lost in what critics called a "pastoral Eden" that shaped Australian fiction's romantic tradition.
Jules Verne
In Search of the Castaways A Romantic Narrative of the Loss of Captain Grant of the Brig Britannia and of the Adventures of His Children and Friends in His Discovery and Rescue
"In Search of the Castaways" by Jules Verne is a novel published in 1867–68. When Lord and Lady Glenarvan discover a message in a bottle from the shipwrecked Captain Grant, they embark on a daring rescue mission with his children. With only partial coordinates indicating the 37th parallel south, the expedition must circumnavigate the globe through South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Joined by an eccentric French geographer and facing treacherous terrain, hostile encounters, and betrayal, they race to find the missing captain before it's too late.
Rolf Boldrewood
The Last Chance: A Tale of the Golden West
"The Last Chance: A Tale of the Golden West" by Rolf Boldrewood is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Arnold Banneret, a Commissioner of Goldfields and Police Magistrate, who embarks on a risky mining investment alongside Jack Waters, a miner who has returned from a difficult journey with promising quartz specimens. Set against the backdrop of the Australian gold rush, the novel explores themes of ambition, trust, and the harsh realities of life on the goldfields. At the start of the novel, we meet Arnold Banneret as he grapples with financial pressures and a mining case that weighs heavily on his mind. He encounters Jack Waters, a weary and destitute miner, who implores Banneret to invest in a lucrative mining claim he's discovered. Despite his initial hesitations about the high stakes, the Commissioner ultimately agrees, recognizing the potential for great wealth. The opening chapters establish the complex relationships and personal stakes involved in this venture, hinting at the challenges and adventures that lie ahead as they travel into the less explored areas of the West in search of fortune.
Henry Lawson
Joe Wilson and His Mates
"Joe Wilson and His Mates" by Henry Lawson is a collection of short stories published in 1901. This volume gathers twenty tales of Australian bush life, featuring rugged characters navigating the harsh and humorous realities of the outback. From courtship and family struggles to ghostly encounters and the famous explosive escapade in "The Loaded Dog," Lawson captures the spirit of bushmen with vivid landscapes and emotional depth. The stories portray flesh-and-blood characters whose experiences reflect the unique conditions of an untamed land.
Rolf Boldrewood
The Ghost Camp; or, the Avengers
"The Ghost Camp; or, the Avengers" by Rolf Boldrewood is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds within the rugged Australian wilderness and follows the journey of the protagonist, Valentine Blount, an Englishman traversing this wild land with aspirations of becoming a gold prospector. Along the way, he encounters a bushman named John Carter, also known as "Little River Jack," who offers assistance and companionship, setting the stage for an exploration of the challenges and dangers of frontier life. The opening of the novel introduces Blount as he navigates the desolate terrain, leading a weary horse and reflecting on the hardships of his journey. As he stops to rest, he spots a mysterious horseman, raising his suspicions about potential threats in the bush. In a stroke of luck, Blount is welcomed by Carter, who takes him to his humble hut for shelter. Through their conversation over a meal, Blount learns about the harsh realities of gold mining while the two bond over shared experiences. This sense of camaraderie amidst the wild landscape sets the tone for Blount's adventure-filled journey, filled with themes of survival, exploration, and the allure of gold.
Joseph Furphy
Such Is Life
"Such Is Life" by Joseph Furphy is a novel written in 1897 and published in 1903. Set in rural Australia during the 1880s, it follows narrator Tom Collins as he travels the countryside, encountering bullock drivers, squatters, and swagmen. Through campfire conversations and loosely woven stories, the novel captures bush life with mordant irony, contrasting high-flown language with mundane events. Hidden substories lurk beneath the surface, challenging readers to untangle truth from tall tales in this distinctly Australian classic.
Henry Handel Richardson
Australia Felix
"Australia Felix" by Henry Handel Richardson is a novel published in 1917. It follows Dr. Richard Mahony, an educated Irishman running a store in the Australian goldfields near Ballarat during the 1850s. Disillusioned with colonial life, he pursues medicine and marries young Polly Turnham, who helps build his practice. As success grows, so does Mahony's restlessness and longing to escape Australia. This opening volume traces their early struggles, family entanglements, and the tensions between ambition and belonging in a raw frontier society.
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