
audiobook
by A. B. (Andrew Barton) Paterson
A sultry summer evening in Sydney sets the stage, where weary club members sip iced drinks and trade barbs in a smoky lounge. Among them sit a boisterous ship‑agent known as “the Bo’sun,” a sharp‑tongued solicitor, and a globe‑trotting scion of a whisky empire—each a vivid portrait of city life’s restless energy. When a telegram summons them to meet a mysterious newcomer from the bush, the conversation turns to the clash between urban comforts and the raw demands of the Australian outback.
The novel follows that stranger’s arrival, weaving together humor, rivalry, and the tangled expectations of a society straddling civilization and frontier. As friendships are tested and ambitions surface, the story paints a lively picture of early‑20th‑century Australia—its bustling clubs, sprawling stations, and the rugged landscape that shapes its people. Listeners will be drawn into a world where a single meeting can set off a chain of events that echo far beyond the smoky club doors.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (366K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jeffrey Kraus-yao, and David Widger
Release date
2004-07-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1864–1941
Best known by the pen name Banjo Paterson, this Australian poet, journalist, and author helped shape the popular image of life in the bush. His verse brought adventure, humor, and a strong feel for the landscape to classics such as The Man from Snowy River and Waltzing Matilda.
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