An Outback Marriage: A Story of Australian Life

"An Outback Marriage: A Story of Australian Life" by A. B. Paterson is a novel set in the harsh and rugged Australian Outback, weaving together elements of adventure, class friction, and the search for belonging. At the heart of the story is Carew, a newcomer eager to experience the real Australia, and the established members of Sydney's Cassowary Club, who greet him with a mix of curiosity and cynicism. The story opens with an oppressive summer evening at the Cassowary Club, where "The Bo’sun,” the lawyer Pinnock, and globetrotter Gillespie impatiently await the arrival of the newcomer, Jim Carew, and their talk showcases their skepticism toward "new chums". When Carew finally appears, he's quickly judged by the club's boisterous members, but an offer from Charlie Gordon promises Carew just the adventure he was seeking, one full of danger and camaraderie in the Outback.