Death of a Swagman
 | |
| Author | Arthur Upfield |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Series | Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Doubleday Books |
Publication date | 1945 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 221 pp |
| Preceded by | Bushranger of the Skies |
| Followed by | The Devil's Steps |
Death of a Swagman (1945) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It is the ninth of the author's novels to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in USA by Doubleday Books in 1945.[1]
It was also serialised in weekly instalments in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper from 20 November 1945 to 19 February 1946.[2]
Abstract[edit]
Bony decides to investigate the death of a swagman in a small hut, near the fictitious town of Merino in NSW, after he notices something peculiar in the photograph taken of the scene.
Location[edit]
The action of the novel takes place at Walls of China now in Mungo National Park, north-east of Buronga, far south-western NSW.
Publishing history[edit]
Following the book's initial publication by Doubleday Books in 1945[3] it was subsequently published as follows:[1]
- Francis Aldor, UK, 1946
- Angus & Robertson, Australia, 1947[1]
- Signet, USA, 1948[1]
and subsequent paperback, ebook and audio book editions.
Critical reception[edit]
Writing in The Courier-Mail Warwick Lawrence commented: "Apart from its criminal plot, there is a feel of the loneliness of the outback in this book. Perhaps because of its local colour, murder or no murder, I enjoyed it for this very reason...Mr. Upfield knows his country and its people. His characters are true to type and alive — except for the corpse, for which I must forgive him."[4]
A. R. McElwain in the Melbourne Herald was not so taken with the work: " Mr Upfield presents a pretty straight-forward plot involving the killing, in the first place, of a tramp. He works in neatly, as a valuable clue, one of those symbols swagmen make on gateposts to indicate to other swaggies how the land lies...But the murderer, I suggest, could have been landed in half the time with a little less Bony and a little more bustle by a couple of sound men from the Sydney CIB."[5]
Notes[edit]
- With a touch of humour a writer in The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), on reading this novel, conjectured that "Bony" is the natural son of Sherlock Holmes.[6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Austlit — Death of a Swagman by Arthur Upfield". Austlit. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ ""Death of a Swagman"". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Death of a Swagman, Doubleday (1945)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ ""Cloak and Dagger"". Courier-Mail. The Courier-Mail, 26 April 1947, p2. 26 April 1947. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ ""Death Outback"". Herald. The Herald, 21 June 1947, p16. 21 June 1947. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ ""Mr. Holmes has a son!"". Daily Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph, 31 May 1947, p20. 31 May 1947. Retrieved 12 February 2024.