AustLit

Romance of emergent Australia; begins on a NSW outback station and ranges to a holiday cottage at Brighton, Victoria, a house in Kew, Melbourne, an English noble home, and back to a residence in Kew. Lindsay Howard, penniless exiled son of an English baronet, visits the Willis' station determined to marry the only daughter. She, Jeanette Willis, overhears his plans and determines to play along until she can explose his English arrogance. They are unwillingly attracted but she rejects his first proposal and he determines to earn his own keep and establish himself as an author. Only when he falls ill from his struggle is true love confessed and then Lindsay's success as a writer, his winning of a government post and Mr Willis's financial ruin and alcoholism are necessary to equalise their positions - cemented when he inherits the baronetcy but chooses to marry rather than claim it. Duty calls them back to England but after making a social success and losing an election on a Liberal platform, they return to Kew. Includes references to the Australian girl; comparisons to American cousins; freedom from convention in Australia and its opportunities, democracy etc.; bushfires; a kangaroo hunt including women riders etc. (PB)