The Fortunes of Richard Mahony (Masterplots: Revised Category Edition, British Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Ethel Florence Lindesay Robertson
- First Published: 1917
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social chronicle
- Time of Work: Nineteenth century
- Setting: Australia
- Principal Characters: Richard Mahony, Mary, Purdy Smith, John Turnham, Henry Ocock
- Genres: Long fiction, Historical fiction
- Subjects: Family or family life, Nineteenth century, Middle classes, Social issues, Marriage, Doctors, Dreams, Poverty or poor people, Mental illness, Bankruptcy or financial crisis, Spiritualism, Hallucinations or illusions, Wealth, Australia or Australians
- Locales: England, Australia, Melbourne, Australia
The Story:
Richard Mahony was ill-suited to life in the Australian gold mines. A moderately successful doctor, he had left his practice in England and had gone to the colonies in hopes of a quick fortune. Having found the life of a digger unsuitable for him, he had taken what little money and goods he had left and set up a store; but he hated the raw country with bitter passion and longed for England and his native Ireland.
To that life, he brought his bride, Mary Turnham, whom he had met through an old schoolfriend, Purdy Smith. Purdy was as crude as Richard was...
[The entire page is 1639 words long]
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