Death of a Swagman

by Arthur W. Upfield

Book Overview

A cypher that looked like a child's game of noughts-and-crosses; a strip of hessian bag; the rhythmic clanging sound of the turning windmill suddenly breaking the silence of the night; the minister... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684174820
• ISBN13: 9780684174822
• Release Date: March 1982
• Publisher: Collier Books
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

excellent introduction to Bony and Australian bush folklore

Death of a Swagman was written in the mid point of Arthur Upfields career and shows in his attention to detail and his ability to capture the feling of Australian country towns in the early part of our century. The story is a good detective novel in its own right with plenty of plots and action and red herrings. Bony's relationship with Rose Marie is used as a strong pivot point throughout the novel giving a useful viewpoint of the running of the town from a child's perspective. The advantage of this book over other bony novels is the character development of the subjects. This gives a depth and humanity which remains after the story is finished. The narrative of the swagmans lifestyle and its mythology is addressed here with great detail and provides a refreshing glimpse of a bygone era.