A Gentleman Sharper and Steelman Sharper

The story revolves around a young man who returns to his rural home after years away and becomes embroiled in a conflict between the local townspeople and a group of itinerant workers. He forms an alliance with one of the workers, a sharp-witted and resourceful individual known as Steelman Sharper, who has a reputation for being able to talk his way out of any situation. Together, they concoct a plan to swindle the townspeople by posing as wealthy travelers in need of assistance. However, their scheme is soon discovered, leading to a series of events that ultimately expose the hypocrisy and greed of the townspeople. The story explores themes of class conflict, deception, and the complexities of human nature, raising questions about the morality of the characters' actions and the consequences of their decisions.

By Henry Lawson · First published 1907 · Genre: Comedy, Crime, Adventure · 3,236 words

First lines

Steelman and Smith had been staying at the hotel for several days in the dress and character of bushies down for what they considered a spree. The gentleman sharper from the Other Side had been hanging round them for three days now. Steelman was the more sociable, and, to all appearances, the greener of the two bush mates; but seemed rather too much under the influence of Smith, who was reserved, suspicious, self-contained, or sulky. He almost scowled at Gentleman Sharper's "Good-morning! " and "Fine day! ", replied in monosyllables and turned half away with an uneasy, sullen, resentful hump of his shoulder and shuffle of his feet.

• Open reader

Similar titles

• A Double Barrelled Ghost by Israel Zangwill
• The Escape Of Mr Trimm by Irvin S. Cobb
• The Downfall Of Mr Jabez Stiffson by Herbert Jenkins
• The Name Day by Hector Hugh Munro
• Babes In The Jungle by O. Henry
• A Comedy In Rubber by O. Henry

Genres

• Comedy — The story features humorous elements and witty dialogue, particularly in the interactions between the characters Steelman and Smith, and their schemes.
• Crime — The plot revolves around deception and con artistry, with characters engaging in schemes to outwit each other for financial gain.
• Adventure — The narrative involves characters taking risks and engaging in bold actions, typical of adventure stories.
• Drama — The story includes dramatic tension and conflict, especially in the interactions and psychological games between the characters.

Tags

Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Satire · Gentleman's Code · Moral Ambiguity · Irony · Sarcasm · Wit · Wordplay

What this Textopian page supports

A Gentleman Sharper and Steelman Sharper is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1907 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Henry Lawson
• Date: 1907 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Comedy, Crime, Adventure, Drama, Satire
• Length: 3,236 words
• Structure: 1 section, 85 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for A Gentleman Sharper and Steelman Sharper by Henry Lawson
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

More by Henry Lawson

• My Army, O, My Army! and Other Songs (1915)
• Short Stories in Prose and Verse (1894)
• To an Old Mate (1908)
• In the Days when the World was Wide (1910)
• Faces in the Street (1899)
• The Roaring Days (1904)
• For'Ard (1907)
• The Drover's Sweetheart (1906)
• All works by Henry Lawson