AND "THE MOST IMPORTANT NOVEL AUSTRALIA HAS YET PRODUCED"
Around the turn of last century. the Bulletin magazine was a vibrant outlet
for Australian literary expression. Breaker Morant sent in contributions
happily penned on horseback, and on whatever paper was at hand.
This included old jam tin labels, and while Breaker's hand writing may
not have been the "thumbnail dipped in tar" effort remarked on by one of
his contemporaries, it was still bad enough to be once accompanied by a
note of apology.
So when in April 1897 Mr. J. F. Archibald, editor of the Bulletin, received
a quite large parcel, he may have had some reservations about the
contents: 1,192 pages of handwritten text in the copperplate script of
the day.
The manuscript had been sent in by a hopeful Shepparton author named Joseph
Furphy, and had been commenced in 1892. A previous effort had
already been published by the Bulletin in 1889, although under the name
of "Warragul Jack".
This new work had its own accompanying note: "I have just finished a full
sized novel, title; "Such is, Life",scene Riverina and Northern Victoria;
temper, democratic; bias, offensively Australian and seeking advice.
If this didn't make editor Archibald sit up and take notice, the text's
first line surely did: "Unemployed at last!" - especially when it leads
to a discourse on the place this event has in the workings of the Universe!
After reading, the manuscript was sent by Archibald to author A.G. Stephens,
his editor of Bulletin book publications, for an opinion. This was
sent directly to Furphy:
"Rather long-winded; yet Such is Life is good It seems to me fitted to
become an Australian classic, or semi-classic...
And when Stephens suggested a London publisher, on grounds of costs, Furphy
replied: "Heaven forbid that 1 should think of treating with an English
publisher. Aut Australia aut nihil. There was more helpful
advice: the text would need to be typed.
Now at this point there were only two typewriters in Shepparton, and Joseph
could not afford to employ either owner to help him out. The solution
was to save up, buy his own, and teach himself to operate the machine,
then do the job himself.
Leaving Joe to his typing for a moment perhaps we can look a little at
his book-, now regarded as an Australian literary masterpiece.
It is of seven chapters, and takes the form of a diary kept by the fictional
Tom Collins, as he journeys in the 'outback' between 1882 and 1883.
We meet station hands and bullock drivers, and find Collins uses each situation
to give us opinions on Australian life.
The setting is drawn from experience, as Furphy himself was a selector
before 'going bad'. His next business venture, that of a bullock
dray carrier also failed due to drought and his team contracting Pleuro-pneumonia,
causing him to come south to Shepparton in 1884, and work at his brother
John's foundry.
With wife Leonie and three children to support, Joseph seems to have been
comfortable with the security of his new job: he remained as a mechanic
for another 20 years, putting in his 54 hours, six days a week.
The family lived in Welsford Street: a modest dwelling with a corrugated
iron lean to shed at the rear where Joe would retire to read and, over
three years by the light of a kerosene lamp shaded by an old hat,
write "Such is Life".
His typing efforts proved a success. The book was to be abridged
and published by the Bulletin on the 1 st. August 1903, but earlier
comments by Stephens proved correct. Joseph had been educated by
his mother, and his writing style, full of learned asides, was at first
difficult. Very few copies, alas, would be printed, and Joseph had
received no financial gain up to his death in Perth in September
he having shifted there in 1904.
It was left to the publishing house of Angus and Robertson to correct matters.
In 1944 they put out an edition of the book in full, and it has remained
in print ever since, with annual sales ranging between 1,000 and 2,000
copies.
With the centennial recently of the book's publication, there has been
an upsurge of interest in Joe. One unbiased local newspaper report
places his novel as comparable to Huckleberry Finn. David Copperfield,
and Ulysses, and notes Furphy's only memorial in his home town is at the
site of the now demolished house, a small brass plaque, and
the wilga tree he had planted.
The Goulburn Valley Writers Group marked the anniversary by a presentation
from its President, Pat Crudden at the Shepparton Library recently,while
this years Country Festival of Writing in Shepparton from the 5th.
to 7th. September, is dedicated to the author for being an inspiration
to everyone who values creative writing.
But perhaps we could leave Joseph Furphy, alias "Tom Collins", as he was
remembered by a senior citizen several years back: a constant visitor in
our Mechanic's Institute Library room, where his place would be leaning
against the mantle piece of the open fire, a good book in hand. Separated
perhaps by distance and circumstance, but still enjoying the company
of fellow writers.
SUCH IS LIFE by Tom Collins (Joseph Murphy).
My copy by Lloyd O'Neil P/L. Hawthorn Victoria 1970
SECONDARY SOURCES:
The Shepparton News 1 August 2003
The Shepparton Advisor 6 Aug 2003