NEW BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 10

NEW BOOKS

LAST OF THE BUSHRANGERS In telling the story of one of the last of Australia’s bushrangers, (Benjamin Hall, Frank Clune departs from liis usual style. “ This,” he says in a preface to ‘ Ben Hall the Bushranger ’ (Angus and Robertson, Sydney), “ is a novel, not an historical narrative, but the characters and incidents are all .based on historical fact.” ’in such a ease it is .usually difficult for the reader to decide what, is fact and what ; is' fiction, but it says, much for Mr ,Clune that .all he has set down possesses the ring of truth. His purpose in setting forth in this manner the ‘record in which such notorious rogues • as Frank Gardiner, Johnny Gilbert, Johnny O’Meallv, arid others play a part, is to attempt to provide, a reason for Hall’s lapse, a lapse which saw a. successful young farmer . become a' (man with a price of £I.OOO on his head. : He is shown as an unfortunate victim of circumstances;' a faithless wife, wrongful accusation, and'unfair police ‘persecution all playing- a part in leading’ him to. prey oh his .fellow-men. Whether these 'things did happen or' riot hardly matters, since Mr Clune makes it seem as if they did, It may ' be unintentional on' the author’s part, but the ; reader develops a Strong sympathy for at least ‘some ‘ of the bush-, in ’ particular—arid the 1 inevitable climax tomes ' as rather a jolt. Otherwise Mr Clune has presented his readers ; with' a most enter- ■ taining' record, made all the more enjoyable because in it Tie drops those irritating mannerisms of.style, that have tended to mar some-of his other works. Interesting end papers set out'the bushranger'couritry.