The Darling River by Henry Lawson
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his rural home after years away and becomes embroiled in the lives of the local people. He forms a close bond with a woman who is struggling to maintain her farm, and together they face the challenges of drought, poverty, and social isolation.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1899 · Genre: Short Story, Adventure, Humor · 4,716 words
First lines
The Darling -- which is either a muddy gutter or a second Mississippi -- is about six times as long as the distance, in a straight line, from its head to its mouth. The state of the river is vaguely but generally understood to depend on some distant and foreign phenomena to which bushmen refer in an off-hand tone of voice as "the Queenslan' rains", which seem to be held responsible, in a general way, for most of the out-back trouble.
What this Textopian page supports
The Darling River is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Adventure, Humor, Realism, Travel
- Length: 4,716 words
- Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Darling River 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 The Darling River?
- 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
- In A Wet Season by Henry Lawson
- The Shanty Keepers Wife by Henry Lawson
- On The Edge Of A Plain by Henry Lawson
- A Day On A Selection by Henry Lawson
- Two Sundowners by Henry Lawson
- They Wait On The Wharf In Black by Henry Lawson
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific event or series of events, typical of short stories.
- Adventure — The narrative involves a journey along the river, with elements of exploration and survival.
- Humor — The writing style includes humorous anecdotes and a light-hearted tone.
- Realism — The depiction of life along the river and the characters' experiences are grounded in realistic detail.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Regional Fiction · Outback Setting · Rural Life · Poverty · Social Commentary · Realism · Literary Fiction · Classic Australian Writing · 19th Century Australia · Colonial Era