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Loading... Robbery under Arms; a story of life and adventure in the bush and in the Australian goldfields (original 1888; edition 2012)by Rolf Boldrewood (Author)
Work InformationRobbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood (1888)
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The quintessential bushranging adventure taleRobbery Under Armshas been an Australian classic virtually since it first appeared in book form in 1888. Boldrewood was the first writer to attempt a long narrative in the voice of an uneducated Australian bushman, and he created a tale with enduring cultural resonance. It was praised by its first readers for its excitement, romance and authentic picture of 1850s life in Australia - and its continuing appeal and popularity has seen the tale frequently adapted for stage, radio, film and television.However, during all of this time the novel's text has not been well served by publishers or reprints. It lost some material accidentally in early typesettings, and these omissions were never repaired. It was later abridged by its author at the publisher's request, but the publisher botched his instructions. And, as with any much reprinted work, thousands of small changes gradually crept into the text. No library descriptions found. |
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![]() GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.1Literature English English fiction Early English 1066-1400LC ClassificationRatingAverage:![]()
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Is it slow-going? Yes. Is it rambling? Certainly, although in a pleasingly modern way. In fact, "modern" is a word that comfortably fits this book. Despite being written more than 130 years ago, the characters and especially the dialogue feel astoundingly up-to-date. This is real speech, not the kind featured in high literature, and it captures the reality of life in 19th century Australia from a working-class - and indeed outlawed class - perspective. Astounding to think that the main roads I travel along each week were the province of bushrangers and far-flung carriages only a little over a century ago.
This is very much a melodrama, no question, but it taps into something more. The 19th century fad for serialised novels had hit by this point, and Boldrewood creates something moving - at least in his male characters - that goes beyond a story of stick-em-up adventures. Very enjoyable. (