“Nineteenth century Australian women novelists delineated life in the outback from a perspective quite different from that of the masculinist pioneer.” Discuss with suitable examples.

Australia is an ancient continent; it is also today, in the first quarter of the 21st century, a thoroughly modernised, affluent, industrial nation. Today, Australia is a “largely immigrant country of approximately twenty million, divided federally into six states and two territories, united under a national government based on British and American constitutional and parliamentary principles and traditions” (Moran, 1). The archaeologist and writer Billy Griffiths identifies “three strands” in Australia’s “national story – the Indigenous, settler and multicultural pasts” (Griffiths B, 9-10).

“Nineteenth century Australian women novelists delineated life in the outback from a perspective quite different from that of the masculinist pioneer.” Discuss with suitable examples

 During the 19th century, there were a number of Australian women novelists who wrote and published fiction. Some of the most notable include:

·       Louisa Anne Meredith : She was one of the earliest published woman novelist from Australia, She wrote several novels and poetry collection, such as "My House in the Clearing" (1858)

·       Ada Cambridge: She wrote more than a dozen novels, several of which were published in the UK, Her best-known works include A Marked Man (1889), A Golden Shanty (1890), and The Three Miss Kings (1891)

·       Rosa Praed: She was one of the most popular and well-respected writers of her time, her most notable works are "Policy and Passion" (1885) and "Maurice Guest" (1896)

·       Ethel Turner: was an Australian novelist and children's author, she wrote the popular novel "Seven Little Australians" (1894) which is still widely read today.

·       Mary Gaunt: Her most notable novel is "Conceived in Liberty" (1889)

·       Kate Baker: Her most famous novel is "The Bride's Pass" (1890)

These women, and many others of the time, wrote fiction that covered a wide range of themes and genres, including romance, adventure, and social commentary. Their works offer a glimpse into the lives and experiences of women in 19th century Australia and are still interesting to read today as they give insight into the culture and society of that era.

It's worth noting that, during the 19th century, it was not common for women to be published, and even less common for them to be recognized as authors, thus their work may not be well known or widely read today.

“Nineteenth century Australian women novelists delineated life in the outback from a perspective quite different from that of the masculinist pioneer.” Discuss with suitable examples

During the 19th century, several Australian men wrote and published novels that were popular at the time and are considered to be important contributions to the literary canon of Australia. Some of the most notable masculinist pioneer Australian novelists include:

·       Marcus Clarke: He is known for his novel "For the Term of His Natural Life" (1874) which is widely regarded as one of the most important Australian novels of the 19th century. The book tells the story of a young man transported to Australia as a convict and his struggles for survival and freedom.

·       Henry Kingsley: He wrote several novels set in Australia, the most notable of which is "Geoffrey Hamlyn" (1859) which is considered a classic of Australian literature.

·       Rolf Boldrewood: He is best known for his novel "Robbery Under Arms" (1888) which is based on the true story of a group of bushrangers in the Australian outback.

·       Joseph Furphy: He wrote "Such is Life" (1903), a novel that tells the story of life on the Australian outback and is considered one of the classics of Australian literature.

·       Adam Lindsay Gordon: He was known for his poetry, but he also wrote several novels, including "Flashman and Other Tales" (1867) and "Gould's Book of Fish" (2001).

These men, and others of their time, wrote fiction that reflected the pioneering spirit of the Australian frontier and the harsh realities of life in the outback. Their works often depicted the struggles of men trying to make a living and build a life in a new and harsh land, and as such, they were considered as typical masculine characters at the time, who were strong and independent. Their work, though written by men, it reflects the Australian culture and society during the time, and are still interesting and important to read today.

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