The Fortunes of Richard Mahony

The Fortunes of Richard Mahony

The Fortunes of Richard Mahony is a three-volume novel by Australian author Henry Handel Richardson. It follows the life of Richard Mahony, an Irish-born doctor who emigrates to Australia in the mid-19th century. The novel begins with Richard's arrival in Australia, where he quickly establishes himself as a successful doctor. He marries a local woman, Mary, and they have two children, Paul and Mary. However, Richard's success is short-lived, as he is soon beset by financial and personal problems. He is forced to move his family to the small town of Ballarat, where he struggles to make a living. The novel follows Richard's fortunes as he attempts to make a new life for himself and his family. He is beset by financial difficulties, and his marriage begins to suffer. He also struggles with his own mental health, as he is haunted by memories of his past. The novel follows Richard's life over the course of several decades, as he attempts to make a success of his life in Australia. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters, from the eccentric to the tragic. The novel is a powerful exploration of the immigrant experience, and of the struggles of life in a new country.

By Henry Handel Richardson · First published 1930 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Family Saga · 60 chapters · 379,225 words

First lines

In a shaft on the Gravel Pits, a man had been buried alive. At work in a deep wet hole, he had recklessly omitted to slab the walls of a drive; uprights and tailors yielded under the lateral pressure, and the rotten earth collapsed, bringing down the roof in its train. The digger fell forward on his face, his ribs jammed across his pick, his arms pinned to his sides, nose and mouth pressed into the sticky mud as into a mask; and over his defenceless body, with a roar that burst his ear-drums, broke stupendous masses of earth.

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The Fortunes of Richard Mahony is listed on Textopian as a novel by Henry Handel Richardson, dated 1930 CE.

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Australian literature · 19th century · historical fiction · coming of age · identity · class struggle · colonialism · family dynamics · personal ambition · mental health · social commentary · gender roles

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More by Henry Handel Richardson