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Notes
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Available as a sound recording.
Contents
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Sequel to a Song,
single work
short story
After they insult an Aboriginal medicine man, the Leesing family suffer a string of misfortunes. His return to the homestead, four years later, brings further misfortune but also unexpected good luck.
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A. T. C. Barragoola,
single work
short story
Nat Ah Matt enjoys his solitary existence which centres around maintaining Barragoola air strip. His patience is soon tested, however, when Ben Larkin comes to visit and outstays his welcome.
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Keeping the Peace,
single work
short story
An amiable policeman is constantly criticised by his angry and intolerant wife.
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Mercy Flight,
single work
short story
Against his better judgement a pilot is convinced to fly through a ferocious storm so that a padre can give the last rites to an old sinner.
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Rocky the Rig,
single work
short story
The Roreys are a disreputable family, but when they tame a wild horse to ride in the Katherine Cup their standing in the area improves.
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The Flying Fat Boy,
single work
short story
An insecure, obese pilot faces a near-death experience in his plane which changes his life.
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Come on Murri!,
single work
short story
Marty disappoints his Aboriginal fans when he allows his white friend, Carey, to beat him in a boxing match. Marty's generosity, however, soon turns to resentment.
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An Eagle Called Ned Kelly,
single work
short story
A group of squatters use aircraft to hunt eagles for sport, but they are still no match for the wily old eagle, dubbed 'Ned Kelly'.
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The Best Laid Plans,
single work
short story
A plan to rob a train safe goes off without a hitch until a crocodile makes an unexpected appearance.
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Femme Fatale,
single work
short story
crime
An overly protective father takes extreme action to keep men away from his 'quarter-caste' daughter.
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Rise and Fall of Jeremiah Stacey,
single work
short story
Old prospector Jeremiah Stacey thinks he's finally struck it rich when he discovers oil. Ignoring his conscience, Jeremiah ends his partnership with long-time friend, Lofty, so that he can keep the oil for himself. Guilt and misfortune, however, soon bring Jeremiah to his senses.
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Michaelos is a Miser,
single work
short story
The Greek community of Darwin believe that Alexis has inherited a large sum of money. Alexis allows them to believe it so that he can find men willing to marry his unpleasant daughters.
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Look Into My Eyes!,
single work
short story
humour
Bert pretends that he has been hypnotised into believing that he is the boss of Black Bull Station. When the mother-in-law of the real boss comes to visit, however, he soon gives up the game.
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Miss Tanaka,
single work
short story
humour
Two wealthy Japanese pearl divers battle for the affections of a Japanese girl who has recently moved to Darwin.
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Moonshine,
single work
short story
Tim O'Connor and his Chinese partner, Cho See Ching, run an illegal alcohol still. The police suspect them, and it looks like Tim's luck might have run out.
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Marrying Money,
single work
short story
Three suitors vie for the hand of wealthy widow, Katie Blaize. Dan Cahoun, the district trooper, is a quiet man and seems least likely to succeed. His patience pays off, however, when the greed of the other two suitors is exposed.
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Once a Policeman,
single work
short story
When Trooper Kintrap arrives in Copper Creek, his officious nature and dedication to the letter of the law makes him unpopular with the locals. Kintrap, however, has a soft spot for children, and he hides evidence of a murder in order to protect a child.
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Day of Shame,
single work
short story
Josie refuses to leave her Northern Territory property when the Japanese air force invades. She expresses anger and shame that her neighbours and the Australian army would so easily abandon the area.
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Kaijek the Songman,
single work
short story
Kaijek wanders the bush hoping to be inspired to invent a song which he must soon perform at a corroboree. Inspiration comes when he is rewarded with tobacco for finding gold for a white prospector.
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Last Toss,
single work
short story
Old Lofty is a sick and elderly prospector. When he becomes lost in the bush without water he fears his scanty luck has finally run out.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Xavier Herbert. Requiem for Genius
2017
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Cultural Studies Review , vol. 23 no. 2 2017; (p. 106-125)'In today’s global celebrity culture it’s hard to imagine a word more over-used and abused than ‘genius’. It is a slippery word with a long and contradictory conceptual history. Yet, in the Land of the Tall Poppy, self-confessions of genius invariably have paved a broad road to public ridicule and denigration. Xavier Herbert’s notion of genius was not static. It changed throughout his life and it evolved through his writing. He agreed with Carlyle that the first condition of genius must always be a ‘transcendent capacity of taking trouble’ and on this foundation he built his own concept of genius, as the unending ‘capacity for loving’. This article explores what genius meant to Xavier Herbert and how it translated into his fiction, before considering how our sense of genius today influences the way we respond to his most challenging fictions of love and hate, 'Capricornia' and 'Poor Fellow My Country'.' (Publication abstract)
- y Xavier Herbert : A Biography St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 1998 Z403827 1998 single work biography This first biography of Xavier Herbert (1901-1984) explores the contradictions at the core of his turbulent life and career. It charts his lifelong quest to discover the reality of his existence and to forge a larger-than-life identity.
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Larger Than Life
1981
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Xavier Herbert 1981; (p. 97-108) -
Collection of Tales from the West
1976
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 21 August 1976; (p. 22)
— Review of New Country : A Selection of Western Australian Short Stories 1976 anthology short story ; Disturbing Element 1963 single work autobiography ; Larger Than Life : Twenty Short Stories 1963 selected work short story -
Larger Than Life
1964
single work
review
— Appears in: North , June no. 2 1964; (p. 11)
— Review of Larger Than Life : Twenty Short Stories 1963 selected work short story
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Larger Than Life
1964
single work
review
— Appears in: North , June no. 2 1964; (p. 11)
— Review of Larger Than Life : Twenty Short Stories 1963 selected work short story -
Collection of Tales from the West
1976
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 21 August 1976; (p. 22)
— Review of New Country : A Selection of Western Australian Short Stories 1976 anthology short story ; Disturbing Element 1963 single work autobiography ; Larger Than Life : Twenty Short Stories 1963 selected work short story -
Tyro and Veteran
1964
single work
review
— Appears in: Southerly , vol. 24 no. 2 1964; (p. 141-143)
— Review of Big Fat Tuesday : Stories 1963 selected work short story ; Larger Than Life : Twenty Short Stories 1963 selected work short story -
[Review] Red Scarf [and] Larger Than Life
1964
single work
review
— Appears in: Advocate: A Weekly Catholic Journal , 30 January 1964; (p. 10)
— Review of Red Scarf 1963 selected work poetry ; Larger Than Life : Twenty Short Stories 1963 selected work short story -
The Green ... and the Gold
1963
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December vol. 3 no. 2 1963; (p. 48-49)
— Review of Green Gold 1963 single work novel ; Larger Than Life : Twenty Short Stories 1963 selected work short story ; The Man Whose Name Was Mud 1963 single work novel - y Xavier Herbert : A Biography St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 1998 Z403827 1998 single work biography This first biography of Xavier Herbert (1901-1984) explores the contradictions at the core of his turbulent life and career. It charts his lifelong quest to discover the reality of his existence and to forge a larger-than-life identity.
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Larger Than Life
1981
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Xavier Herbert 1981; (p. 97-108) -
Xavier Herbert. Requiem for Genius
2017
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Cultural Studies Review , vol. 23 no. 2 2017; (p. 106-125)'In today’s global celebrity culture it’s hard to imagine a word more over-used and abused than ‘genius’. It is a slippery word with a long and contradictory conceptual history. Yet, in the Land of the Tall Poppy, self-confessions of genius invariably have paved a broad road to public ridicule and denigration. Xavier Herbert’s notion of genius was not static. It changed throughout his life and it evolved through his writing. He agreed with Carlyle that the first condition of genius must always be a ‘transcendent capacity of taking trouble’ and on this foundation he built his own concept of genius, as the unending ‘capacity for loving’. This article explores what genius meant to Xavier Herbert and how it translated into his fiction, before considering how our sense of genius today influences the way we respond to his most challenging fictions of love and hate, 'Capricornia' and 'Poor Fellow My Country'.' (Publication abstract)