Hungerford by Henry Lawson (1908)
The novel revolves around the life of a young man who returns to his rural home after serving time in prison for a crime he did not commit. He struggles to reintegrate into society and reconcile with his family, while also confronting the harsh realities of poverty and social injustice in the outback. The story explores themes of redemption, guilt, and the human condition.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1908 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Travel Literature · 1,483 words
First lines
One of the hungriest cleared roads in New South Wales runs to within a couple of miles of Hungerford, and stops there; then you strike through the scrub to the town. There is no distant prospect of Hungerford -- you don't see the town till you are quite close to it, and then two or three white-washed galvanized-iron roofs start out of the mulga.
What this Textopian page supports
Hungerford is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Humor, Travel Literature, Satire, Realism
- Length: 1,483 words
- Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Hungerford 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Hungerford?
- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific setting and characters, typical of short stories.
- Humor — The narrative includes humorous observations and anecdotes, particularly about the town and its inhabitants.
- Travel Literature — The story describes a journey to a remote location, detailing the landscape and experiences encountered.
- Satire — The text satirizes government inefficiency and the absurdities of border politics.
Tags
Australian literature · Short stories · Realism · Regional fiction · Rural life · Poverty · Social commentary · Class struggle · Outback · Desert landscape · Isolation · Loneliness