'Barbara Baynton was one of the most important women writers who were active at the turn of the 20* century, when Henry Lawson and "Banjo" Paterson' s robust nationalism were more dominating voices. Baynton' s, which was definitely a feminine one, was a dissident voice. The present work aims to discuss the theme of motherhood in her only novel, Human Toll, to explore Baynton s effort in subverting the prevailing self-confident bush mythology which was best represented by the idea of "mateship".' (Publication abstract)