Bush Studies Explained

Italic Title:	Bush Studies
Author:	Barbara Baynton
Language:	English
Genre:	short stories
Publisher:	Duckworth
Pub Date:	1902
Pages:	155 pp

Bush Studies is a short story collection by Barbara Baynton^[1] that presents Australian bush life in the early colonial period as dangerous and isolating for the women.^[2]

Analysis

Baynton's short stories and novel were noted at the time of their publication,^[3] and since,^[4] for their grim realism and depiction of female suffering.^[5] 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" propagated through periodicals such the Bulletin, and by bush balladeers such as Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson.^{[5] [6]}

Bush Studies was first published in London in 1902, as Bayton was unable to find an Australian publisher.^[7]

Contents

• "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

External links

• Full text - Sydney University SETIS - Bush Studies by Barbara Baynton
  • Barbara Baynton: Liar or Truth-teller
• *Steele. Kathleen. Colloquy. Fear and Loathing in the Australian Bush: Gothic Landscapes in Bush Studies and Picnic at Hanging Rock. 20. 2010. Monash University. 15 April 2021.

Notes and References

1. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8291047 National Library of Australia - Bush Studies by Barbara Baynton
2. Web site: Publication summary - Bush Studies by Barbara Baynton . HarperCollins Australia . HarperCollins Australia . 15 April 2021 . A&R Classics . en-AU.
3. News: Junius [pen name] . BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS, &c.: New Books . 21 January 1903 . 58 . . LXVI . 1720 . 15 April 2021 . National Library of Australia.
4. Rodriguez . Judith . Essay: Bush Studies . Reading Australia . 2014 . 15 April 2021.
5. Barrett . Susan . No Place for a woman? Barbara Baynton's Bush Studies . Journal of the Short Story in English. Les Cahiers de la nouvelle . 1 March 2003 . 40 . 85–96 . 15 April 2021 . en . 1969-6108.
6. Web site: Thomas . Jacki . National Library of Australia . Lawson and Baynton: Different perspectives . About Australia . Australian Government . 15 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160921155738/http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/henry-lawson . 21 September 2016 . 1 October 2015 . live .
7. Baynton, Barbara Jane (1857–1929). Australian Dictionary of Biography. 1979. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University .