The New Swagwomen single work   short story   adventure   romance  
Issue Details: First known date: 1896... 1896 The New Swagwomen
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Romance adventure set in Victoria. Four girls decide to take a walking tour dressed as boys after attending a Women's Suffrage League meeting. They enjoy camping out for a few days and then decide to put up in a hotel at Rutherglen where four cyclists they met briefly are staying. Mischief prompts them to take a walk with four local girls but trouble in the shape of a father witnesses a kiss the narrator gives to her companion. She narrowly escapes a thrashing when she mistakenly enters the room of one of the cyclists; he mistakes her for a thief. Her escape and a full tilt cycle ride and accident reveal her gender - they become friends on their meeting in town, and romance seems set to follow. Interesting mix: the girls' decision is mocked as silly and inspired by women's movement madness - but an enjoyment of freedom is unmistakable. Kissing of the girl 'daring'? Male triumphant, women happy etc. (PB)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Australian Journal vol. 31 no. 377 October 1896 Z1053041 1896 periodical issue 1896 pg. 708-709
Last amended 22 Sep 2003 10:15:55
X