The Fortunes of Richard Mahony
ForumProject 1929
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1pamelad
The third and last volume, Ultima Thule, was written in 1929. I'm starting with the first volume, Australia Felix, 1917.
Australia Felix begins on the Ballarat diggings, where the Irishman, Richard Mahony is running a shop. The miners are agitating for the removal of the licence fees for miners' rights.
Australia Felix begins on the Ballarat diggings, where the Irishman, Richard Mahony is running a shop. The miners are agitating for the removal of the licence fees for miners' rights.
2pamelad
The second volume, The Way Home, begins on the ship carrying Mahony and his wife to England and ends back in Melbourne.
I'm enjoying The Fortunes of Richard Mahony for its descriptions of Australian society in Ballarat and Melbourne during the mid-nineteenth century.
Next volume Ultima Thule, first published in 1929.
I'm enjoying The Fortunes of Richard Mahony for its descriptions of Australian society in Ballarat and Melbourne during the mid-nineteenth century.
Next volume Ultima Thule, first published in 1929.
3cushlareads
I've got as far as taking it out of the library but I have that frenzied feeling of having too many books on the go! I blame it all on LT - nothing to do with my lack of restraint... I'll try to start it before I need to renew it.
4pamelad
The Fortunes of Richard Mahony begins on the goldfields of Ballarat where Mahony, an Irish immigrant, has come to make his fortune. He has given up hope of striking it rich and is running a shop on the diggings. Mahony marries Mary and, with her encouragement and her brother's backing, returns to his profession of medicine, starting a practice in Ballarat.
Spoilers Follow
The efforts of the warm-hearted, generous Mary help to make the practice a success and the couple become respected members of Ballarat society, but the fastidious and retiring Mahony dislikes the uncouth colonials and pines for the culture of England. Mary tries to dissuade him, but Mahony sells up and leaves.
The rigid class prejudice of English society grates on Mahony, who sells up at a loss and returns to Melbourne.
Mahony cannot be happy anywhere. When his life is settled he yearns to escape. He is driven to move on time and again, against the wishes of his family and all common sense.
From the beginning, I was caught up in the atmosphere of impending tragedy. You cannot like Mahony, but you can sympathise and hope, along with Mary, that he will not make this mistake again. He moves restlessly on, trying to escape his own nature, dragging his wife and children to ruin.
End of spoilers
Richardson paints a detailed picture of Melbourne and Ballarat societies in the mid-nineteenth century. Those of us who went to school in Victoria learned about the gold rush, the Eureka rebellion, Marvellous Melbourne, Cobb & Co coaches. Richardson fills in the background: the colonial parliaments; the striving businessmen; the new mansions; the governor's ball; the new train line. These are things that kept me reading when I thought it was just too harrowing, that I could not bear to know what happened next.
ETA In case it's not clear from my review, I'm recommending the trilogy highly.
Spoilers Follow
The efforts of the warm-hearted, generous Mary help to make the practice a success and the couple become respected members of Ballarat society, but the fastidious and retiring Mahony dislikes the uncouth colonials and pines for the culture of England. Mary tries to dissuade him, but Mahony sells up and leaves.
The rigid class prejudice of English society grates on Mahony, who sells up at a loss and returns to Melbourne.
Mahony cannot be happy anywhere. When his life is settled he yearns to escape. He is driven to move on time and again, against the wishes of his family and all common sense.
From the beginning, I was caught up in the atmosphere of impending tragedy. You cannot like Mahony, but you can sympathise and hope, along with Mary, that he will not make this mistake again. He moves restlessly on, trying to escape his own nature, dragging his wife and children to ruin.
End of spoilers
Richardson paints a detailed picture of Melbourne and Ballarat societies in the mid-nineteenth century. Those of us who went to school in Victoria learned about the gold rush, the Eureka rebellion, Marvellous Melbourne, Cobb & Co coaches. Richardson fills in the background: the colonial parliaments; the striving businessmen; the new mansions; the governor's ball; the new train line. These are things that kept me reading when I thought it was just too harrowing, that I could not bear to know what happened next.
ETA In case it's not clear from my review, I'm recommending the trilogy highly.
