The House that was Never Built by Henry Lawson
It's a short story about a man who returns to his childhood home after many years away and reflects on the house that was never built by his father. The story explores themes of regret, nostalgia, and the complexities of family relationships.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1900 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction · 5,488 words
First lines
There had been heavy rain and landslips all along the branch railway which left the Great Western Line from Sydney just beyond the Blue Mountains, and ran through thick bush and scrubby ridgy country and along great alluvial sidings-were the hills on the opposite side of the wide valleys (misty in depths) faded from deep blue into the pale azure of the sky-and over the ends of western spurs to the little farming, mining and pastoral town of Solong, situated in a circle of blue hills on the banks of the willow-fringed Cudgegong River.
Similar titles
- Seeing The Last Of You by Henry Lawson
- Mount Bukaroo by Henry Lawson
- Drifted Back by Henry Lawson
- His Country After All by Henry Lawson
- New Years Night by Henry Lawson
- Nadejda Nicolaievna by Vsevolod Garshin
Genres
- Literary Fiction — Explores complex themes of madness, memory, and societal change with a focus on character development and introspection.
- Psychological Fiction — Delves into the mental state of the protagonist, examining the impact of personal tragedy and isolation on his psyche.
- Historical Fiction — Set against the backdrop of historical events and locations in Australia, reflecting the social and economic conditions of the time.
- Mystery — Centers around the unresolved story of the house and the fate of the young couple, creating an air of intrigue and suspense.
Tags
Australian Literature · Fiction · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Rural Life · Working Class · Poverty · Isolation · Loneliness · Disillusionment
What this Textopian page supports
The House that was Never Built is listed on Textopian as a novel by Henry Lawson, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Henry Lawson
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Tragedy
- Length: 5,488 words
- Structure: 1 section, 101 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The House that was Never Built by Henry Lawson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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