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y separately published work icon Long Odds : A Novel single work   novel  
Issue Details: First known date: 1868-1869... 1868-1869 Long Odds : A Novel
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Bob Calverly, Australian nephew of Squire Valentine Yoricks, is visiting England when he falls in love with Kate French, niece of Saville whom she loves. As the story opens Cyril secretly marries his landlady's daughter, Carry Manton - just as his brother's death in a steeplechase makes him heir to his father's estate. The machinations of Rupert Dacre enmesh both Cyril and Bob on the paths of ruin - one through denying his marriage and the other through gambling debts and money-lenders ... Enlivened by the portraits of poet/grocer Binns and literary man/reporter Bland, heroes of the humble working man's sphere and mediocrity ... (PB)

Exhibitions

18005861
18005672

Notes

  • Dedication: To G. A. W. in grateful remembrance of the months of July and August, 1868.
  • G. A. Walstab's name does not appear on the title page. For details of his contribution to the writing of the novel see Ian F. McLaren Marcus Clarke: An Annotated Bibliography, p.4. Note also: A Problem and a Solution: Marcus Clarke and the writing of 'Long Odds' (1946) by Samuel R Simmons.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Serialised by: Colonial Monthly : An Australian Magazine 1867-1870 periodical (24 issues)
      1868-1869 .
      Note/s:
      • Published in serialised format in the Colonial Monthly 1868-1869.
    • Melbourne, Victoria,: Clarson, Massina & Co. , 1869 .
      image of person or book cover 2328193410315634812.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Link: 8489868Full text document AustLit Full Text
      Extent: xii, 344p. , 7 leavesp.
      Edition info: 2nd ed.
      Description: illus. (b & w)
      Note/s:
      • 'Preface: This story was commenced early in the year 1868, for publication in the Colonial Monthly - a magazine of which I became at that time proprietor and editor. In now presenting it to the public in a complete form, I will take the opportunity of saying a few prefatory words.

        In reviewing Long Odds from time to time, in its brief notices of the Colonial Monthly, the press has frequently blamed the author for laying the scene in England instead of in Australia. It seems, at first sight, natural to expect that a story written by a person living in Australia, published in an Australian periodical, and offered to an Australian public, should contain description of nothing that was not purely Australian.

        The best Australian novel that has been, and probably will be written, is Geoffrey Hamlyn, and any attempt to paint the ordinary squatting life of the colonies, could not fail to challenge unfavourable comparison with that admirable story. But I have often thought, and I daresay other Australian readers have thought also - How would Sam Buckley get on in England?

        My excuse, therefore, in offering to the Australian public a novel in which the plot, the sympathies, the interest, the moral, are all English, must be that I have endeavoured to depict, with such skill as is permitted me, the fortunes of a young Australian in that country which young Australians still call 'Home'.' - Marcus Clarke (Collins Street, Melbourne, June 8th, 1869.)
      • Digitised by AustLit in cooperation with SETIS, 2003.
    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Trubner ,
      1869 .
      Extent: 344p.
    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Hutchinson ,
      1896 .
      person or book cover
      Alternative title: Heavy Odds : a novel
      Link: 11435322Full text document Sighted: 30/06/2017
      Extent: viii, 380p.p.
      Note/s:
      • The title Long Odds under which this novel was published serially in Australia has been changed because another story with the same title has since been issued. (verso)

Works about this Work

A Friend of My People at Home : Marcus Clarke and Captain Frederick Standish Michael Wilding , 2012 single work biography
— Appears in: Quadrant , July - August vol. 56 no. 7/8 2012; (p. 68-76)
Marcus Clarke, Gothic, Romance David Matthews , 2006 single work criticism
— Appears in: Medievalism and the Gothic in Australian Culture 2006; (p. 3-17)
David Matthews examines the production of the Gothic in the fiction of Marcus Clarke.
Bohemia and the Dream-Life of the Colonial City Andrew McCann , 2002 single work criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 1 no. 2002; (p. 4-18)
Mark Forester's [sic] Trial Lurline Stuart , 1996 single work criticism biography
— Appears in: Margin , November no. 40 1996; (p. 9-13)
Marcus Clarke : Some Notes and Queries Wendy Abbott-Young , 1983 single work criticism
— Appears in: Margin , no. 10 1983; (p. 11-22)
Long Odds 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Leader , 26 June 1869; (p. 24)

— Review of Long Odds : A Novel Marcus Clarke , George A. Walstab , 1868-1869 single work novel
Notices of New Books 1870 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian Town and Country Journal , 5 February vol. 1 no. 5 1870; (p. 18)

— Review of Long Odds : A Novel Marcus Clarke , George A. Walstab , 1868-1869 single work novel
Bohemia and the Dream-Life of the Colonial City Andrew McCann , 2002 single work criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 1 no. 2002; (p. 4-18)
Marcus Clarke, Gothic, Romance David Matthews , 2006 single work criticism
— Appears in: Medievalism and the Gothic in Australian Culture 2006; (p. 3-17)
David Matthews examines the production of the Gothic in the fiction of Marcus Clarke.
Scribblers and Screed 1896 single work column
— Appears in: The Free-Lance , 25 June vol. 1 no. 10 1896; (p. 14)
A column canvassing current literary news including a report that Hutchinson is to publish Marcus Clarke's Long Odds under the title Heavy Odds and also providing some information on the early years of Louis Becke's literary career.
A Friend of My People at Home : Marcus Clarke and Captain Frederick Standish Michael Wilding , 2012 single work biography
— Appears in: Quadrant , July - August vol. 56 no. 7/8 2012; (p. 68-76)
Marcus Clarke : Some Notes and Queries Wendy Abbott-Young , 1983 single work criticism
— Appears in: Margin , no. 10 1983; (p. 11-22)
Last amended 4 Dec 2019 07:59:52
Subjects:
  • c
    England,
    c
    c
    United Kingdom (UK),
    c
    Western Europe, Europe,
Settings:
  • c
    England,
    c
    c
    United Kingdom (UK),
    c
    Western Europe, Europe,
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