AustLit

US romance between an army lieutenant and a society belle begins during a country visit. A proposal is refused, but true hearts revealed in the city at parting. Light, pleasantly inconsequential. (PB)

Tale of a New Zealand farm in 1861 and a brave Maori warrior who gives his life helping a white mother defend herself and her child. Her husband had refused to leave when warned of an impending Maori attack but was absent when it came. Native heroism, etc. (PB)

A London lodging-house keeper's tale of a beautiful but referenceless young tenant who comes to live in the house, gives birth and dies. The child is cared for until its grandfather is found, and the mother's sad tale revealed. The love and honesty of the landlady bring her a just reward. Simple; predictable but warm. (PB)

Tragedy of a beautiful girl married innocently to a bigamist, narrated by her mother. She and her baby died the same day a new servant revealed her 'husband's' true wife, a rich, deformed woman. Slight. (PB)

Romance of cousins. Leslie Darrell undertakes to find a wife for her cousin Caryll but is strangely hurt when he pays court to the woman she has chosen. A photographer tests Leslie's curiosity - and prompts his proposal to her. Pleasant. (PB)

A tramp plays a piano about to be auctioned, reveals his genius to the crowd - and dies. Sentiment. (PB)

Adventure of a builder's assistance and his mate atop a very tall chimney when their cradle crashes to the ground. His mate goes panic-blind then mad before they are rescued ... Slight. (PB)

Tragedy of two young officers at Gibraltar. Two wild brother officers - both dishonourably indebted, resolve to commit suicide as the courtyard lamplighter does his duty. The first officer does so but the second lamp refuses to be lit and the second officer receives a letter from home detailing money credited to his account through his mother's efforts. The shock and her love reform him. Strangely told in parts. (PB)

Tale of English society romance, money and self-sacrifice. An American widow accepts a rich dissipated suitor instead of the penniless young man who loves her and is willing to be disinherited for her. Her apparent selfishness is self-sacrifice; irony very strong. (PB)

A Melbourne horse cab driver's experiences, narrated to a curious lawyer. A regular customer, a client with an unpaid hotel bill, and a policeman with a drunken woman. Light; character sketch. (PB)

US circus tragedy. A cruel father sends his young son aloft to dive into a net. The leap eventually kills the boy, his mother dies of grief, and a year later the father dies of the DTs - unmourned. Episodic narration; sentimental. (PB)

A murders sends Sinclair by coach to Jericho diggings near Sandhurst in search of Ben (the old digger/victim's friend) who he had promised to assist. A bright young miner helps Sinclair bring the murder home to Josiah Meeks who was an alcoholic and suffered from the DTs. Includes a ghost, a photograph of the murder victim, a coarse milk maid who was loved by Meeks and returned the tenderness. (PB)