Plot Summary

The Drover's Wife

Henry Lawson
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The Drover's Wife

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1892

Book Brief

Henry Lawson

The Drover's Wife

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1892
Book Details
Pages

11

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Publication Year

1892

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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Super Short Summary

"The Drover's Wife" by Henry Lawson, set in the Australian outback, follows an unnamed woman living in an isolated hut with her four children while her husband is away droving. Over the course of one night, she confronts a dangerous snake that has entered their home. As she waits to kill the snake, she reflects on the various perils she has faced alone, including floods, bushfires, and drought.

Gritty

Melancholic

Challenging

Dark

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Henry Lawson's The Drover's Wife evokes strong imagery and realism, capturing the struggles of a solitary bush woman. Reviews praise its vivid storytelling and emotional depth but note its bleakness and lack of character development. While some readers find it a poignant snapshot of resilience, others feel its simplicity limits narrative engagement.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Drover's Wife?

A reader who appreciates stark, pioneering life stories set in the Australian outback would enjoy Henry Lawson's The Drover's Wife. Fans of Willa Cather's My Ántonia or Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie will find resonance in Lawson's vivid depiction of rural resilience and maternal strength.

Book Details
Pages

11

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Publication Year

1892

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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