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Contents
- The Bush Undertaker and Other Stories : Preface, single work criticism (p. 6-8)
-
The Bush Undertaker,
single work
short story
An old shepherd discovers his mate, Brummy, dead and mummified in the bush. Saddened, he feels compelled to bury him.
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The Drover's Wife,
single work
short story
First appearing in The Bulletin in 1892, Henry Lawson's short story 'The Drovers Wife' is today regarded as a seminal work in the Australian literary tradition. Noted for it's depiction of the bush as harsh, potentially threatening and both isolated and isolating, the story opens with a simple enough premise: an aggressive--and presumably deadly--snake disrupts the working life of a bushwoman and her young children. Brave but cautious, the woman resolves to protect her children since her husband is, characteristically, away from home and of no help.
As time passes within the story, tension builds, and the snake's symbolic threat takes on layers of meaning as the sleepless heroine recalls previous challenges she faced while her husband was away. A series of flashbacks and recollections propel the story through the single night over which it takes place, and by the time the climax arrives--the confrontation with the snake--readers have learned much about the heroine's strengths and fears, most of the latter involving the loss of children and dark figures who encroach upon her small, vulnerable homestead. To be sure, this "darkness" is highly symbolic, and Lawson's use of imagery invokes Western notions of good and evil as well as gendered and racial stereotypes.
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The Union Buries Its Dead,
single work
short story
humour
Describes a bush funeral.
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Rats,
single work
short story
humour
Three travelling shearers encounter a swagman, 'Rats', having a fight with his swag.
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Stiffner and Jim (Thirdly, Bill),
single work
short story
humour
Bill and Jim, the narrator, arrive at a pub desperate for a drink, but without any money.
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Steelman,
single work
short story
humour
Describes how Steelman would inflict himself on a family and resist all efforts to dislodge him.
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Steelman's Pupil,
single work
short story
humour
Steelman strives to teach Smith the tricks of the trade, but eventually succeeds too well.
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The Geological Spieler,
single work
short story
humour
Steelman poses as a geologist, with Smith as his offsider. They are offered accommodation in a railway camp and stay for several days, but decide to move on when they discover they are not the only tricksters in the camp.
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How Steelman Told His Story,
single work
short story
humour
Steelman praises Smith, telling him he is nearly as good to talk to as an intelligent sheepdog, then reveals much of his life story in the form of counsel about life.
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Going Blind,
single work
short story
Tells the story of a bushman who is losing his sight and his attempts to remain optimistic.
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Our Pipes,
single work
short story
humour
Mitchell relates how he began to smoke a pipe and his mother's efforts to stop him.
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Bill, the Ventriloquial Rooster,
single work
short story
humour
Mitchell relates the sorry tale of Bill, a rooster mystified by the echo of his crowing.
- The Blindness of One-Eyed Bogan, single work short story humour (p. 66-74)
-
The Hero of Redclay,
single work
short story
Joe is unhappy when Jack Mitchell brings an unlikeable shearer known as 'the Lachlan' to their camp. The Lachlan stays with them for the day, then moves on. That night Mitchell tells Joe the tragic tale of Jack Drew, a journalist and sometime gold prospector, and Ruth Wilson, a girl with whom Mitchell was also in love.
- The Boozers' Home, single work short story (p. 89-93)
-
The Iron-Bark Chip,
single work
short story
humour
Dave Regan and his gang of workers try to pass off a girder as ironbark, as specified in their contract, but the government inspector seems suspicious.
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The Loaded Dog,
single work
short story
humour
Dave and Andy create a bomb to blast fish out of the waterhole. However their dog picks the bomb up and begins a deadly, yet hilarious, game of 'fetch'.
- Gettin' Back on Dave Regan : A Rather Fishy Yarn from the Bush, single work short story humour (p. 105-112)
-
No Place for a Woman,
single work
short story
'Ratty Howlett' has lived alone on his selection for fifteen years. His only company is the occasional traveller he waylays on the road past his property and persuades to stop for a yarn. When the narrator is invited back to Ratty's hut for a meal he is surprised to find it clean and tidy. Ratty tells him his wife has gone out for the day and it is not until five years later that the narrator learns the truth.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also braille, sound recording.
Works about this Work
-
Untitled
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 May 1971; (p. 22)
— Review of The Bush Undertaker and Other Stories 1970 selected work short story -
Untitled
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , April vol. 10 no. 6 1971; (p. 116)
— Review of The Bush Undertaker and Other Stories 1970 selected work short story -
Untitled
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian , 20 February 1971; (p. 24)
— Review of The Bush Undertaker and Other Stories 1970 selected work short story
-
Untitled
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian , 20 February 1971; (p. 24)
— Review of The Bush Undertaker and Other Stories 1970 selected work short story -
Untitled
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , April vol. 10 no. 6 1971; (p. 116)
— Review of The Bush Undertaker and Other Stories 1970 selected work short story -
Untitled
1971
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 May 1971; (p. 22)
— Review of The Bush Undertaker and Other Stories 1970 selected work short story