While the Billy Boils
The Original Newspaper Versions
Published on 1. December 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
450 pages
978-1-74332-036-5 (ISBN)
Description
Fifty-two of Henry Lawson's stories and sketches that he had first published in newspapers and magazines from 1888 onwards were gathered in his collection While the Billy Boils (Angus & Robertson, 1896). Lawson was not responsible for their ordering and he had to give ground on their texts, especially on his idiosyncratic presentation of wordings that helped to breathe life into his characters and situations. The present edition dismantles the fait accompli of 1896 by presenting the individual items in the chronological order of their first publication and with their original newspaper texts. This will allow a new appreciation of Lawson's writing, one that is attentive to his developing powers.The edition also facilitates a close study of Lawson's collaboration with the producers of the collection in 1896, in particular with his copy-editor Arthur W. Jose and publisher George Robertson. Facsimile images (available online) of the printer's copy that they prepared for While the Billy Boils supplement the edition's listing of the alterations that each of them made, revealing the textual history of each story or sketch.
Reviews / Votes
'Eggert reveals in fascinating detail the editing, design and production of While the Billy Boils and captures the personality of visionary publisher and canny businessman George Robertson, whose saturation publicity campaign resulted in more than 250 reviews, including a significant number in Britain.' -- Craig Munro -- Spectrum 'Reading this was for me a revelation. The text of the stories as first printed in newspapers has been restored. '[T]he accretions, intentions and sequencing of the 1896 book' are stripped away 'rather than treating them as the inevitable climax of a literary revolution'. The changes to the text over the years are charted, and the reader is directed to the University of Sydney's e-scholarship website or to the State Library of New South Wales' website, where digitised images of the printer's copy with its various changes, deletions, and additions may be scrutinised.' -- Paul Brunton -- Australian Book ReviewMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Sydney
Australia
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
A5: Tankobon
Illustrations
1 Illustrations, color; 7 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 148 mm
Thickness: 44 mm
Weight
1000 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-74332-036-5 (9781743320365)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Paul Eggert is professor emeritus of English literature and Australian Research Council professorial fellow at the University of New South Wales (Canberra). Elizabeth Webby is Professor Emerita of English at the University of Sydney.
Content
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
Note on the texts
Note on equivalences While the Billy Boils: the original newspaper versions in chronological order 1. His fatheras mate (Bulletin, 22 December 1888)
2. The story of Malachi (Bulletin, 22 June 1889)
3. Bogg of Geebung (Boomerang, 23 May 1891)
4. A visit of condolence: a study from life of a Sydney alarrikina (Bulletin, 23 April 1892)
5. A day on a selection. A sketch from observation (Bulletin, 28 May 1892)
6. Arvie Aspinallas alarm clock (Bulletin, 11 June 1892)
7. The droveras wife (Bulletin, 23 July 1892)
8. A Christmas in the far west; or, the bush undertaker (Antipodean, [November] 1892)
9. In a dry season (Bulletin, 5 November 1892)
10. Mitchell: a character sketch (Bulletin, 15 April 1893)
11. The union buries its dead. A bushmanas funeral. A sketch from life (Truth, 16 April 1893)
12. On the edge of a plain (Bulletin, 6 May 1893)
13. Mitchell doesnat believe in the sack (Bulletin, 13 May 1893)
14. aStragglersa: a sketch out back (Bulletin, 27 May 1893)
15. aRatsa (Bulletin, 3 June 1893)
16. The shearing of the cookas dog (Worker, 17 June 1893?)
17. aAn old mate of your fatherasa (Worker, 24 June 1893)
18. Another of Mitchellas plans for the future (Bulletin, 1 July 1893)
19. aSome Day.a A swagmanas love story (Worker, 15 July 1893?)
20. A camp-fire yarn (Worker, 5 August 1893?)
21. His colonial oath (Bulletin, 5 August 1893)
22. The man who forgot (Truth, 6 August 1893)
23. When the sun went down (Worker, 19 August 1893)
24. aTomas selection.a (A sketch of settling on the land) (Bulletin, 9 September 1893)
25. Macquarieas mate (Brisbane Worker, 28 October 1893)
26. aBrummy Usena (Worker, 11 November 1893?)
27. aDossing outa and acampinga (Worker, 25 November 1893)
28. aIn a wet season.a Along the line (Bulletin, 2 December 1893)
29. That there dog oa mine. An Australian sketch (New Zealand Mail, 8 December 1893)
30. Coming across a a study in the steerage (New Zealand Mail, serialised 15 and 29 December 1893)
31. Hungerford (Bulletin, 16 December 1893)
32. Stiffner and Jim (thirdly Bill) (Pahiatua Herald, 9 March 1894)
33. Drifted back (Worker, 11 August 1894)
34. Remailed (Worker, 25 August 1894)
35. Shooting the moon (Worker, 22 September 1894)
36. aBoard and residencea (Worker, 29 September 1894)
37. Baldy Thompson. A sketch of a squatter (Worker, 13 October 1894)
38. Head come back (Bulletin, 15 December 1894)
39. That swag [enter Mitchell] (Bulletin, 15 December 1894)
40. She wouldnat speak (Worker, 15 December 1894)
41. His country a after all (Patriot, 22 December 1894)
42. The old bark school: an echo (Bulletin, 5 January 1895)
43. Some reflections on a voyage across Cookas Straits (N.Z.) [across the Straits] (Worker, 12 January 1895)
44. Steelman (Bulletin, 19 January 1895)
45. Our pipes (Bulletin, 11 May 1895)
46. Jonesa alley (Worker, serialised 1, 8 and 15 June 1895)
47. Going blind (Worker, 29 June 1895)
48. Steelmanas pupil (Bulletin, 14 December 1895)
49. Two dogs and a fence (Worker, 21 December 1895)
50. An unfinished love story (Worker, 21 March 1896)
51. For auld lang syne (manuscript, by 25 April 1896)
52. The geological speiler (manuscript, by 2 May 1896)
Abbreviations
Introduction
Note on the texts
Note on equivalences While the Billy Boils: the original newspaper versions in chronological order 1. His fatheras mate (Bulletin, 22 December 1888)
2. The story of Malachi (Bulletin, 22 June 1889)
3. Bogg of Geebung (Boomerang, 23 May 1891)
4. A visit of condolence: a study from life of a Sydney alarrikina (Bulletin, 23 April 1892)
5. A day on a selection. A sketch from observation (Bulletin, 28 May 1892)
6. Arvie Aspinallas alarm clock (Bulletin, 11 June 1892)
7. The droveras wife (Bulletin, 23 July 1892)
8. A Christmas in the far west; or, the bush undertaker (Antipodean, [November] 1892)
9. In a dry season (Bulletin, 5 November 1892)
10. Mitchell: a character sketch (Bulletin, 15 April 1893)
11. The union buries its dead. A bushmanas funeral. A sketch from life (Truth, 16 April 1893)
12. On the edge of a plain (Bulletin, 6 May 1893)
13. Mitchell doesnat believe in the sack (Bulletin, 13 May 1893)
14. aStragglersa: a sketch out back (Bulletin, 27 May 1893)
15. aRatsa (Bulletin, 3 June 1893)
16. The shearing of the cookas dog (Worker, 17 June 1893?)
17. aAn old mate of your fatherasa (Worker, 24 June 1893)
18. Another of Mitchellas plans for the future (Bulletin, 1 July 1893)
19. aSome Day.a A swagmanas love story (Worker, 15 July 1893?)
20. A camp-fire yarn (Worker, 5 August 1893?)
21. His colonial oath (Bulletin, 5 August 1893)
22. The man who forgot (Truth, 6 August 1893)
23. When the sun went down (Worker, 19 August 1893)
24. aTomas selection.a (A sketch of settling on the land) (Bulletin, 9 September 1893)
25. Macquarieas mate (Brisbane Worker, 28 October 1893)
26. aBrummy Usena (Worker, 11 November 1893?)
27. aDossing outa and acampinga (Worker, 25 November 1893)
28. aIn a wet season.a Along the line (Bulletin, 2 December 1893)
29. That there dog oa mine. An Australian sketch (New Zealand Mail, 8 December 1893)
30. Coming across a a study in the steerage (New Zealand Mail, serialised 15 and 29 December 1893)
31. Hungerford (Bulletin, 16 December 1893)
32. Stiffner and Jim (thirdly Bill) (Pahiatua Herald, 9 March 1894)
33. Drifted back (Worker, 11 August 1894)
34. Remailed (Worker, 25 August 1894)
35. Shooting the moon (Worker, 22 September 1894)
36. aBoard and residencea (Worker, 29 September 1894)
37. Baldy Thompson. A sketch of a squatter (Worker, 13 October 1894)
38. Head come back (Bulletin, 15 December 1894)
39. That swag [enter Mitchell] (Bulletin, 15 December 1894)
40. She wouldnat speak (Worker, 15 December 1894)
41. His country a after all (Patriot, 22 December 1894)
42. The old bark school: an echo (Bulletin, 5 January 1895)
43. Some reflections on a voyage across Cookas Straits (N.Z.) [across the Straits] (Worker, 12 January 1895)
44. Steelman (Bulletin, 19 January 1895)
45. Our pipes (Bulletin, 11 May 1895)
46. Jonesa alley (Worker, serialised 1, 8 and 15 June 1895)
47. Going blind (Worker, 29 June 1895)
48. Steelmanas pupil (Bulletin, 14 December 1895)
49. Two dogs and a fence (Worker, 21 December 1895)
50. An unfinished love story (Worker, 21 March 1896)
51. For auld lang syne (manuscript, by 25 April 1896)
52. The geological speiler (manuscript, by 2 May 1896)