''Bush Studies'' is a short story collection by

Barbara Baynton Barbara Janet Baynton (née Lawrence; 4 June 1857 – 28 May 1929) was an Australian writer known primarily for her short stories about life in the bush. She published the collection ''Bush Studies'' (1902) and the novel ''Human Toll'' (1907), a ...

that presents Australian bush life in the early colonial period as dangerous and isolating for the women.

Analysis

Baynton's short stories and novel were noted at the time of their publication, and since, for their grim realism and depiction of female suffering. In contrast to other writers of "pioneer bush" narratives, this suffering is portrayed by Baynton as arising not only from the harsh environment, but from male attitudes and power. This represents an alternative view to the romanticism of the bush and "

mateship Mateship is an Australian cultural idiom that embodies equality, loyalty and friendship. Russel Ward, in ''The Australian Legend'' (1958), once saw the concept as central to the Australian people. ''Mateship'' derives from '' mate'', meaning '' ...

" propagated through periodicals such the ''

Bulletin Bulletin or The Bulletin may refer to: Periodicals (newspapers, magazines, journals) * Bulletin (online newspaper), a Swedish online newspaper * ''The Bulletin'' (Australian periodical), an Australian magazine (1880–2008) ** Bulletin Debate ...

'', and by

bush ballad The bush ballad, bush song or bush poem is a style of poetry and folk music that depicts the life, character and scenery of the Australian bush. The typical bush ballad employs a straightforward rhyme structure to narrate a story, often one of ...

eers such as

Henry Lawson Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson (17 June 1867 – 2 September 1922) was an Australian writer and bush poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial perio ...

and

Banjo Patterson Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, (17 February 18645 February 1941) was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the d ...

. ''Bush Studies'' was first published in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

in 1902, as Bayton was unable to find an Australian publisher.

* "A Dreamer" * "Squeaker's Mate" * "Scrammy 'And" * "Billy Skywonkie" * "Bush Church" * " The Chosen Vessel"

Other works (selected)

Novel

* ''Human Toll'' (1907)

Collections

* ''Cobbers'' (1917)

Individual works

* ''Fragments: 1 Day-Birth'' (1899) - poem * ''A Dreamer'' (1902) - short story

References

External links

Full text - Sydney University SETIS - ''Bush Studies'' by Barbara Baynton
*
Barbara Baynton: Liar or Truth-teller
* * 1902 short story collections Australian short story collections {{1900s-story-collection-stub