Скачать или смотреть THE THINGS WE DARE NOT TELL ~ Henry Lawson

Lawson was born into poverty on the goldfields. His father was a Norwegian-born miner and his mother, Louisa Lawson, was a pioneering feminist and writer who had a major influence on his literary path. Henry suffered from hearing loss from an early age, and by his teenage years, he was profoundly deaf — an experience that shaped his introspective, observational writing style.

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Literary Career:

Lawson’s work often focused on the grim realities of life in the Australian outback — drought, isolation, poverty, mateship, and stoicism. Unlike the more romanticised versions of bush life by Banjo Paterson, Lawson wrote with a raw, realist edge.

Famous works include:
• Short Stories:
• The Drover’s Wife (1892) – a powerful depiction of a bush woman’s struggle to protect her children
• Joe Wilson and His Mates (1901)
• While the Billy Boils (1896) – a defining collection of Australian bush stories
• Poetry:
• Faces in the Street
• The Teams
• Past Carin’
• Freedom on the Wallaby

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Style & Themes:
• Realism: Lawson’s writing reflected the stark, sometimes brutal conditions of bush life.
• Empathy: Deep understanding of the poor, the working class, women, and the isolated.
• National Identity: Helped shape a uniquely Australian voice in literature — laconic, dry-witted, egalitarian.

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Later Years:

Despite his literary fame, Lawson struggled with poverty, alcoholism, and mental health in later life. He spent time in prison for failing to pay maintenance to his estranged wife, and his health deteriorated rapidly.

He died in 1922 at the age of 55. He was the first Australian writer to be granted a state funeral, marking his deep national significance.

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Legacy:
• Lawson is a key figure in the Australian literary canon.
• His works are taught widely in Australian schools.
• Streets, schools, and public buildings have been named after him.
• His image appeared on the A$10 note (1988 polymer series).

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