Australia Felix

"Australia Felix" by Henry Handel Richardson is a historical novel that plunges into the lives of gold diggers in 19th-century Australia. The story opens with Long Jim, a heartbroken digger, reflecting on his misfortunes after a tragic accident claims the life of a fellow miner, Bill. Once a lamplighter in England, Jim's memories highlight the allure of wealth that drove him to the goldfields, now filled with harsh realities and dashed dreams. As Jim battles his grief and homesickness, the narrative broadens to show the bustling atmosphere of the goldfields, where individuals like young Purdy join the chaotic search for fortune amid personal and political troubles, establishing a world defined by hope and the harsh realities of life as a gold digger.