Wayne Marshall's 'Henry Goes Bush' reimagines Henry Lawson in a playful, action-packed debut novel

Wayne Marshall, author of the short story collection 'Shirl', has released a debut novel titled 'Henry Goes Bush' that reimagines the life of iconic Australian writer and bush poet Henry Lawson. The novel, published by Picador (Pan Macmillan), follows a young, hapless Lawson as he is sent by his Bulletin editor Archibald to Bourke to dry out and write about the bush. In Bourke, Lawson encounters a local politician, rival Banjo Patterson, and a series of earthquakes that open up alternate versions of the town. The story blends speculative fiction with a comedic and serious exploration of Australian cultural mythologies, mateship, and the conflicting colonial views of the bush. Marshall's novel is compared to Ryan O'Neill's 'Their Brilliant Careers' for its meta-narrative about Australian literature. The book offers alternative futures for Lawson, avoiding his historical trajectory of addiction and violence. Key characters include rodeo rider Sissy Fitzgerald and young poet Jim Gordon.