Mr Hogarth's Will

Last updated

Mr Hogarth's Will
Author Catherine Helen Spence
CountryAustralia
Language English
GenreFiction
Publication date
1864
Media typePrint
Preceded byTender and True : A Colonial Tale 
Followed byThe Author's Daughter 

Mr Hogarth's Will (1864) (aka Uphill Work) is a novel by Australian writer Catherine Helen Spence. [1]

Contents

The novel was originally published in serial form in The Weekly Mail from February 1864. [1] Unfortunately this cannot be verified as copies of the newspaper have not survived.

Synopsis

At the reading of the will of Mr Hogarth, a Scottish bachelor, it is discovered that he has not left his money to the two nieces he raised, but rather to a son that no-one had previously heard of. The two young women are forced, by the conditions of the will, to make their own way in the world, without any possible help from the son, even though he would like to provide it.

Critical reception

In the chapter titled "Literature and Melodrama" in The Oxford Literary History of Australia, Robert Dixon writes of this novel, as with others of the authors, that "it is as if the mode of domestic realism resists the excesses of melodrama, holding it at a distance, both spatially and stylistically". [2]

Emma on "The Australian Women's Writing Challenge" website notes: "Spence mixes a set of characters who have lived in Scotland all their lives and some who have lived in Scotland and in Australia. It allows her to compare the two ways of life and advertise life in the colonies. Through her characters, she discusses a lot of topics but I think that the most important point she’s making are that people should be judged according to their own value and accomplishments and not according to their birth...Mr Hogarth’s Will isn’t just about giving a forum to Spence’s ideas. It is also a wonderful Austenian novel with lovely characters. Jane and Elsie have something of Elinor and Marianne and of Jane and Elizabeth. Francis Hogarth could have been friends with Mr Knightley. There’s a Miss Philipps who could be Miss Bingley’s offspring. I had a soft spot for Mr Philipps, an affectionate man who gives a real shot at fatherhood and has quite a modern way to interact with his children. He seemed to be a better version of Mr Bennet." [3]

On the ANZLitLovers blog Lisa Hill commented: "Mr Hogarth’s Will is not, despite its romantic entanglements and happy resolution, a soppy romance. The plot is absorbing over the full length of the book because the girls’ problems seem insurmountable and this novel is an early example of feminist realism in an entertaining package. Spence was on a mission to expose the structural problem of female unemployment and the poverty of single women." [4]

Publication history

After its original 1864 publication in The Weekly Mail, the novel was published as follows:

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Wicked Lady</i> 1945 film

The Wicked Lady is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwaywoman for the excitement. The film had one of the largest audiences for a film of its period, 18.4 million.

The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–1954), who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career (1901). She bequeathed her estate to fund this award. As of 2016, the award is valued at A$60,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Helen Spence</span> Scottish-born Australian author, teacher, journalist, politician and suffragist

Catherine Helen Spence was a Scottish-born Australian author, teacher, journalist, politician, leading suffragist, and Georgist. Spence was also a minister of religion and social worker, and supporter of electoral proportional representation. In 1897 she became Australia's first female political candidate after standing (unsuccessfully) for the Federal Convention held in Adelaide. Called the "Greatest Australian Woman" by Miles Franklin and by the age of 80 dubbed the "Grand Old Woman of Australia", Spence was commemorated on the Australian five-dollar note issued for the Centenary of Federation of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennings Carmichael</span> Australian poet and nurse

Jennings Carmichael was an Australian poet and nurse.

<i>My Brother Jack</i> Novel by George Johnston

My Brother Jack is a classic 1964 Australian novel by writer George Johnston. It is part of a trilogy centering on the character of David Meredith. The other books in the trilogy are Clean Straw for Nothing and A Cartload of Clay.Its text is commonly studied for many English literature subjects in Australia.

<i>The Big Fellow</i> (novel)

The Big Fellow (1959) is the last novel by Australian author Vance Palmer. It won the 1959 Miles Franklin Award.

<i>The Irishman</i> (novel) Novel by Elizabeth OConner

The Irishman (1960) is a novel by Australian author Elizabeth O'Conner. It won the 1960 Miles Franklin Award.

<i>The Well Dressed Explorer</i> 1962 Australian novel by Thea Astley

The Well Dressed Explorer (1962) is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Thea Astley. This novel shared the award with The Cupboard Under the Stairs by George Turner.

<i>The Cupboard Under the Stairs</i> 1962 Australian novel by George Turner

The Cupboard Under the Stairs is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author George Turner. This novel shared the award with The Well Dressed Explorer by Thea Astley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Hogarth</span>

George Hogarth WS was a Scottish lawyer, newspaper editor, music critic, and musicologist. He authored several books on opera and Victorian musical life in addition to contributing articles to various publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neville Blyth</span> Australian politician

Neville Blyth was a South Australian colonial politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Brodie Spence</span> Australian politician

John Brodie Spence was a prominent Scottish-born banker and politician in the early days of South Australia. He was a brother of the reformer Catherine Helen Spence.

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1929.

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1937.

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1957.

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1960.

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1867.

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1864.

<i>Black Rock White City</i> Novel by A. S. Patrić

Black Rock White City (2015) is the debut novel of Australian writer A. S. Patrić. It won the Miles Franklin Award in 2016.

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1972.

References

  1. 1 2 "Austlit - Mr Hogarth's Will by Catherine Helen Spence". Austlit. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  2. ↑ The Oxford Literary History of Australia, OUP, 1998, p80
  3. ↑ ""Catherine Helen Spence, Mr Hogarth's Will (review)"". The Australian Women's Writing Challenge. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  4. ↑ ""Mr Hogarth's Will (1865), by Catherine Helen Spence"". ANZLitLovers Blog. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Mr Hogarth's Will (Richard Bentley)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Mr Hogarth's Will (Penguin)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  7. ↑ Project Gutenberg - Mr Hogarth's Will. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.