Only a Jockey
Only a Jockey by Andrew Barton Paterson is a novel that explores the themes of identity, class, and social hierarchy in early 20th-century Australia. The story follows the life of a young man named Jack, who is born into a wealthy family but feels stifled by his privileged upbringing. Through his experiences as a jockey in horse races, Jack learns to embrace his own identity and find purpose outside of his privileged upbringing. The novel is known for its vivid descriptions of the Australian outback and its exploration of themes that are still relevant today.
By Andrew Barton Paterson · First published 1908 · Genre: Poetry, Short Stories, Australian Literature · 559 words
First lines
'Richard Bennison, a jockey, aged 14, while riding William Tell in his training, was thrown and killed. The horse is luckily uninjured.' Melbourne Wire.
Out in the grey cheerless chill of the morning light, Out on the track where the night shades still lurk; Ere the first gleam of the sungod's returning light, Round come the race-horses early at work.
What this Textopian page supports
Only a Jockey is listed on Textopian as a poem by Andrew Barton Paterson, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Andrew Barton Paterson
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Short Stories, Australian Literature, Historical
- Length: 559 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Only a Jockey by Andrew Barton Paterson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Only a Jockey?
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The book is a collection of Paterson's poems.
- Short Stories — Apart from poetry, the book also contains short stories.
- Australian Literature — The author is a noted Australian writer, and the book reflects themes that are important to Australian culture and literature.
- Historical — The book portrays events and feelings from a bygone era in Australia.
Tags
horse racing · jockey · racing · sports · fiction · novel · Australia · British Empire · colonialism · adventure · travel · nature