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CHAPTER I UNEMPLOYED - CHAPTER II Tuesday, Oct. 9—GOOLUMBULLA; TO RORY'S - CHAPTER III Friday, Nov. 9—CHARLEY'S PADDOCK; BINNEY; CATASTROPHE - CHAPTER IV Sunday, Dec. 9—DEAD MAN'S BEND! WARRIGAL ALF DOWN; RESCUE TWICE; ENLISTED TERRIBLE TOMMY, ETC. - CHAPTER V Wednesday, Jan. 9—TRINIDAD PAD., PER SAM YOUNG; CONVLAVE - CHAPTER VI Saturday, Feb. 9—RUNNYMEDE; TO ALF JONES'S - CHAPTER VII Friday, March 28—WILCANNIA SHOWER; JACK THE SHELLBACK; Saturday, March 29—TO RUNNYMEDE; TOM ARMSTRONG AND MATE - CHAPTER I
LUNATIC AT LARGE!
A wry, introspective narrator finds himself thrust into a period of idle unemployment, turning the quiet days into a laboratory for observation. He treats his own life like a diary, cataloguing the minutiae of a sun‑baked landscape, the clatter of pack‑horses, and the steady companionship of a slate‑coloured kangaroo dog. His voice blends philosophical speculation with a keen eye for human (and animal) character, offering a candid, almost scientific reading of the world around him.
The story unfolds as a series of weekly entries, each anchored by a specific date and place, inviting listeners to wander alongside the narrator through the harsh but beautiful outback. As he records the ordinary—weather, travel, fleeting conversations—he reveals deeper questions about purpose, chance, and the invisible forces that shape our lives. This thoughtful chronicle promises a contemplative journey, where the everyday becomes a canvas for insight and quiet humor.
Language
en
Duration
~15 hours (913K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2002-10-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1843–1912
Best known for Such Is Life, this self-taught Australian writer turned the voices, humor, and hard realities of bush life into a landmark novel. Writing mostly as Tom Collins, he remains a key figure in Australian literature.
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