image of person or book cover 2546127619610400431.jpg
Cover image courtesy of publisher.
Issue Details: First known date: 2007... 2007 Barcroft Boake: Collected Works, Edited, with a Life
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

'The 1890s produced an extraordinary outpouring of distinctively Australian writing. The most famous writers now are Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson, but others were as well known in their day. Among the half-forgotten poets is Barcroft Boake, who as a young man from Sydney found a job up country, and fell in love with the bush way of life. From Western Queensland in summer to Adaminaby in winter, he lived that life, and it sustains his writing. His wrote about what he found: very real people, often people he knew, and their successes and disasters. But he was also a casualty of the hard times of the early 'nineties. In the grip of depression, aged just twenty-six, he killed himself. His best-known work is the ballad 'Where the Dead Men Lie', an Australian classic. He wrote many others as attractive but less well known. Here, they are all carefully edited, and the extensive notes include background on the events and characters in the poems.' (Publisher's blurb)

Contents

* Contents derived from the Melbourne, Victoria,:Australian Scholarly Publishing , 2007 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Jack's Last Muster, Diamantina River, Western Queenslandi"The first flush of grey light, the herald of daylight", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 48-52; notes 249-250)
From the Far Westi"'Tis a song of the Never Never land-", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 53-54; notes 250)
On the Rangei"On Nungar the mists of the morning hung low,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 55-59; notes 250-251)
In Memoriami"There's a stockwhip hanging idle", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 60; notes 251-252)
To Rolf Boldrewoodi"I cannot climb fame's tower and ring", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 61-65; notes 253)
The Demon Snow Shoes : A Legend of Kiandrai"The snow lies deep on hill and dale,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 66-71; notes 253-254)
'Twixt the Wings of the Yardi"Hear the loud swell of it, mighty pell-mell of it,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 72-74; notes 254)
The Digger's Songi"Scrape the bottom of the hole: gather up the stuff!", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 75-76; notes 254-255)
A Memoryi"Adown the grass-grown paths we strayed,", Surcingle , single work poetry (p. 77-78; notes 255)
Where the Dead Men Liei"Out on the wastes of the Never Never-", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry
A poem about the many man - settlers - who perished in the Australian outback, with allusions to the landscape itself as a possible cause of these deaths. 
(p. 79-81; notes 255-256)
Kitty McCraei"The western sun, ere he sought his lair,", Surcingle , single work poetry (p. 82-87; notes 256-258)
Kelly's Conversioni"Kelly the "Rager" half opened an eye", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 88-93; notes 258-259)
At the "J.C." (West Queensland)i"None ever knew his name,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 94-95; notes 259-260)
A Strike Storyi""Flash" Harry stood and scratched his ear,", Surcingle , single work poetry humour (p. 96-99; notes 260)
How Polly Paid for Her Keepi"Do I know Polly Brown? Do I know her? Why, damme,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 100-104; notes 260-262)
Down the Riveri"Hark, the sound of it drawing nearer,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 105-106; notes 261-262)
A Valentinei"The Bree was up; the floods were out", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 107-108; notes 262)
How Babs Malone Cut Down the Fieldi"Now the squatters and the "cockies",", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 109-114; notes 262-263)
On the Boundaryi"I love the ancient boundary-fence,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 115-116; notes 263)
Fogarty's Gini"A sweat-dripping horse and a half-naked myall,", Barcroft Boake , single work poetry (p. 117-121; notes 263-265)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Not Just Another Depressive Charles Boag , 2008 single work correspondence
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , September no. 304 2008; (p. 4)
A Very Easeful Death Patrick Buckridge , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , July-August no. 303 2008; (p. 14)

— Review of Barcroft Boake: Collected Works, Edited, with a Life Barcroft Boake , 2007 collected work poetry
A Very Easeful Death Patrick Buckridge , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , July-August no. 303 2008; (p. 14)

— Review of Barcroft Boake: Collected Works, Edited, with a Life Barcroft Boake , 2007 collected work poetry
Not Just Another Depressive Charles Boag , 2008 single work correspondence
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , September no. 304 2008; (p. 4)
Last amended 17 Apr 2014 10:12:12
X