AustLit logo
image of person or book cover 7748026865129991451.jpg
This image has been sourced from online.
y separately published work icon The Wanderings of a Simple Child: or Sketches of Life in the Back Country selected work   prose   autobiography   travel  
Issue Details: First known date: 1890... 1890 The Wanderings of a Simple Child: or Sketches of Life in the Back Country
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.

Notes

  • A selection of journalistic articles based on his outback experiences.

Affiliation Notes

  • 19th-Century Australian Travel Writing

    Adelaide born Alfred Greenwood Hales (1860-1936) (a.k.a the "Smiler") was a novelist and war correspondent. His 1891 Wanderings of a Simple Child: Sketches of Australian Life had been previously published under the title Wanderings of a Simple Child, or Sketches of Life in the Back Country. The third edition (1891) was prefaced with favourable reviews from the Australian press. Written in first person vernacular narrative, it tells in "plain and simple English" Hales' experience of bush and city life in the "sunny south". It was introduced as an unromanticised account of real-life incidences, with a focus on mining, bush life, descriptions of towns, and leisure activities in the Colony.

Contents

* Contents derived from the Sydney, New South Wales,:Gibbs, Shallard and Co. , 1890 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Sketches of Life in Australia, Smiler , single work autobiography (p. 1-28)
The Mail Drivers, Smiler , single work prose (p. 29-34)
* Contents derived from the Sydney, New South Wales,:Runge & Co , 1891 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Travelling on the Slug, Smiler , single work prose (p. 34-35)
Suicide or Murder?, Smiler , single work prose (p. 36-39)
Worth Her Salt, Smiler , single work prose (p. 40-44)
My First Funeral, Smiler , single work prose (p. 45-46)
Burned to Death, Smiler , single work prose (p. 47-48)
The Mines, Smiler , single work prose (p. 49-51)
About Barmaids, Smiler , single work prose (p. 52-54)
Mining Experts, Smiler , single work prose (p. 55-57)
The Junction Mine, Smiler , single work prose (p. 58-62)
Pistols for Choice, Smiler , single work prose (p. 63-65)
How I Made My Reputation as a Horseman, Smiler , single work prose (p. 66-70)
Birching, Smiler , single work prose (p. 71-74)
'On Tick', Smiler , single work prose (p. 75-78)
Boozers, Smiler , single work prose (p. 79-82)
Dying of Thirst, Smiler , single work prose (p. 83-86)
A Kangaroo Hunt, Smiler , single work prose (p. 87-92)
Dutch Moses, Smiler , single work prose (p. 93-98)
Bob the Finisher, Smiler , single work prose (p. 99-102)
Monsieur Francais, Smiler , single work prose (p. 102-104)
The Barrier as It Is, Smiler , single work prose (p. 105-108)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Sydney, New South Wales,: Runge & Co , 1891 .
      image of person or book cover 7748026865129991451.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Alternative title: Wanderings of a Simple Child : Sketches of Australian Life
      Extent: viii, 202p.p.
      Edition info: 3rd ed.
      Note/s:
      • With an Introduction by Jack Drayton, and containing reviews from the Adelaide Advertiser, The Sydney Referee, the Sydney Truth, the Port Pirie Standard and The Barrier Miner, Broken Hill.

        Also contains a section (pp. 192-202), "The Proverbs of the Simple Child"

    • Carlisle, Victoria Park area, South & South East Perth, Perth, Western Australia,: Hesperian Press , 2020 .
      Extent: viii, 61p.p.
      ISBN: 9780859057837
Last amended 9 Feb 2022 11:46:53
Common subjects:
Settings:
  • Terowie, Hallett - Jamestown - Peterborough - Orroroo area, Mid North South Australia, South Australia,
  • Silverton, Broken Hill area, Far West NSW, New South Wales,
  • Broken Hill, Broken Hill area, Far West NSW, New South Wales,
  • Bush,
  • Australian Outback, Central Australia,
  • Country towns,
Newspapers:
    Powered by Trove
    X