Chinkie's Flat by Louis Becke (1888)
The story revolves around a young man who inherits a large sum of money and decides to travel the world. He settles in a small town on the coast of New Zealand where he becomes embroiled in a series of adventures involving gold mining, shipwrecks, and romance. As Chinkie's Flat is a collection of short stories, each tale explores themes of love, loss, and redemption against the backdrop of colonial New Zealand. The narrative is characterized by vivid descriptions of the natural landscape and the people who inhabit it. Throughout the book, the author employs a mix of humor, pathos, and social commentary to critique the excesses of colonialism and the impact of European settlement on indigenous cultures.
By Louis Becke · First published 1888 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction · 14 chapters · 36,489 words
First lines
"Chinkie's Flat," In its decadence, was generally spoken of, by the passing traveller, as a "God-forsaken hole," and it certainly did present a repellent appearance when seen for the first time, gasping under the torrid rays of a North Queensland sun, which had dried up every green thing except the silver-leaved ironbarks, and the long, sinuous line of she-oaks which denoted the course of Connolly's Creek on which it stood.
"The township" was one of the usual Queensland mining type, a dozen or so of bark-roofed humpies, a public-house with the title of "The Digger's Best," a blacksmith's forge, and a quartz-crushing battery.
What this Textopian page supports
Chinkie's Flat is listed on Textopian as a novel by Louis Becke, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Louis Becke
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Drama, Romance
- Length: 36,489 words
- Structure: 14 chapters, 587 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Chinkie's Flat by Louis Becke
- 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 Chinkie's Flat?
- How does this novel by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Man Of Impulse by Louis Becke
- An Island Memory by Louis Becke
- The Trader by Louis Becke
- The Tale by Joseph Conrad
- The Rover by Joseph Conrad
- Thankfuls Inheritance by Joseph C. Lincoln
Genres
- Adventure — The plot involves exploration and the challenges faced in a foreign environment.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context reflect a specific historical period, providing insight into the culture and society of that time.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style emphasizes character development and thematic depth, focusing on human experiences.
- Drama — The narrative explores intense emotional conflicts and relationships among characters.
Tags
Adventure · Australian Literature · Colonialism · Coming-of-Age · Family Drama · Friendship · Humor · Identity · Imperialism · Literary Fiction · Melancholy · Nostalgia
Contents
- "Chinkie's Flat"
- Grainger Makes a "Deal"
- Jimmy Ah San
- Grainger and Jimmy Ah San Talk Together
- The Resurrection of the "Ever Victorious"
- "Magnetic Villa"
- Sheila Carolan
- Myra and Sheila
- Dinner with "the Refined Family"
- The "Champion" Issues a "Special"
- A Change of Plans
- Sheila Becomes One of a very "Unrefined" Circle
- On the Scent
- "Miss Caroline" is "all Right" (Vide Dick Scott)