Arthur Wright (writer)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Wright was an Australian writer best known for his novels set against a background of the sporting world, particularly horseracing, which meant he was often compared during his lifetime to Nat Gould.
near Bathurst
. His family lived in Bathurst for a time, then Cow Flat before moving to Sydney
. He was educated at Paddington Public School, worked for a time in a sewing machine firm, then went bush for a few years, doing various odd jobs in places like the mines, shearing sheds and railways. He returned to Sydney and worked for the Water and Sewerage Board for eight years. During this time he began to write in his spare time, and his short stories started appearing in magazines. His first novel, Keane of Kalgoorlie was a big success, launching his career as a novelist. By 1914 it was estimated Wright had sold 60,000 copies of his books, but he continued to work as a wharfinger
in the Sydney suburb of Manly
. Several of his books were adapted into films and plays, and he himself wrote the occasional screenplay. He had a wife and five children.
"Judging from this latest publication by the author of 'Keane of Kalgoorlie', imaginative literature in Australia has got down to the deadest low water of spring-tide ebbs. The story is full of murders, horse-stealings, and turf frauds, drunks and welshers. This fact, however, does not invalidate the right to claim for the compilation Australian authenticity - all these things can be substantiated by police court reports in evening newspapers. The trouble is that there is no coherency in this wild and woolly farrago of delinquencies and stupidities. To outline the "plot" is practically impossible. The story drifts from one absurdity to another. There seems to be no possibility of rational connection between the events: there is certainly no emotional sentiment, no principle, no characterisation, no redeeming feature whatever in the crude production."
Biography
Wright was born in the small town of Green SwampGreen Swamp
Green Swamp may refer to:*Green Swamp , a swamp in Florida*Green Swamp , a swamp in North Carolina*Green Swamp, former name of the area of Inverell, New South Wales, Australia*The Green Swamp, a 1916 silent film...
near Bathurst
Bathurst
-Places:In Australia:* Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia and the following things associated with the city** Bathurst Regional Council, the local government area for the Bathurst urban area and rural surrounds...
. His family lived in Bathurst for a time, then Cow Flat before moving to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He was educated at Paddington Public School, worked for a time in a sewing machine firm, then went bush for a few years, doing various odd jobs in places like the mines, shearing sheds and railways. He returned to Sydney and worked for the Water and Sewerage Board for eight years. During this time he began to write in his spare time, and his short stories started appearing in magazines. His first novel, Keane of Kalgoorlie was a big success, launching his career as a novelist. By 1914 it was estimated Wright had sold 60,000 copies of his books, but he continued to work as a wharfinger
Wharfinger
Wharfinger is an archaic term for a person who is the keeper or owner of a wharf. The wharfinger took custody of and was responsible for goods delivered to the wharf, typically had an office on the wharf or dock, and was responsible for day-to-day activities including slipways, keeping tide tables...
in the Sydney suburb of Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
. Several of his books were adapted into films and plays, and he himself wrote the occasional screenplay. He had a wife and five children.
Critical reception
Wright's work was not highly regarded critically at the time. This contemporary review of Gambler's Gold appeared in the West Australian:"Judging from this latest publication by the author of 'Keane of Kalgoorlie', imaginative literature in Australia has got down to the deadest low water of spring-tide ebbs. The story is full of murders, horse-stealings, and turf frauds, drunks and welshers. This fact, however, does not invalidate the right to claim for the compilation Australian authenticity - all these things can be substantiated by police court reports in evening newspapers. The trouble is that there is no coherency in this wild and woolly farrago of delinquencies and stupidities. To outline the "plot" is practically impossible. The story drifts from one absurdity to another. There seems to be no possibility of rational connection between the events: there is certainly no emotional sentiment, no principle, no characterisation, no redeeming feature whatever in the crude production."
Writings
- Dwyer's Sweep (1904) - short story
- Keane of Kalgoorlie (1907) - novel about a young man from Kalgoorlie whose determination to win the Sydney CupSydney CupThe Sydney Cup is an Australian horse race, held for Thoroughbred horses and run over 3200 metres. It is run every year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, New South Wales in April/May...
sees him come up against a villain married to the woman Keane loves - adapted into a 1908 play and 1911 filmKeane of KalgoorlieKeane of Kalgoorlie is a 1911 Australian silent film set in the racing and gambling circles of Sydney, based on a popular play by Edward William O'Sullivan, made by the husband and wife team of John and Agnes Gavin.-Synopsis:...
. - A Christmas Eve (1908) - short story
- A Rogue's Luck (1910) - a novel about a clerk, Kendall Curtis, who is in love with Vera, also desired by his boss, Horace Wakeman, a successful bookie who arranges for Curtis to be kidnapped and Vera's father to be murdered.
- Gambler's Gold (1911) - novel later adapted into a 1911 filmGambler's GoldGambler's Gold is an Australian film directed by George Young. The cinematographer, Hubert Wilkins, later became a noted polar explorer....
. - Rung In (1912) - a novel set against the backdrop of horseracing, including the Melbourne CupMelbourne CupThe Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
- In the Last Stride (1914) - novel about a rugby player is in love with a girl but so is a villainous referee, who smuggles opium on the side; the hero is falsely convicted of a crime and has to flea to Queensland and returns as a horse racing champion - adapted into a 1916 filmIn the Last StrideIn the Last Stride is a 1916 Australian silent film directed by Martyn Keith based on a popular action novel by Arthur Wright. The film's star, Dave Smith, was a champion heavyweight boxer who had fought Les Darcy. There was also an appearance from boxer Les O'Donnell.-External links:* at...
. - The Loyal RebelThe Loyal RebelThe Loyal Rebel is a 1915 Australian silent film directed by Alfred Rolfe set against the background of the Eureka Rebellion.-External links:* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1915) - screenplay - A Sport from Hollowlog Flat (1915) - novel
- The Hate of a Hun (1916) - novel about attempts by German agents to commit sabotage in Australia during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
- Under a Cloud (1916) - novel
- Over the Odds (1918) - novel about a love triangleLove triangleA love triangle is usually a romantic relationship involving three people. While it can refer to two people independently romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two...
between a villainous bookie, a beautiful woman, and a returned soldier who likes to race horses - The Breed Holds Good (1918) - novel about Frank Lindsay, the son of a squatter and horse owner who falls into shady company and owes money to some Germans who want him to spy on Australian army.
- When Nuggets Glistened (1919) - an adventure tale set during the Australian Gold Rush
- The Outlaw's Daughter (1919) - a novel about a bushranger who abandons his daughter, then falls in love with her years later and forces her to marry him at gunpoint. He forces to flee and she later marries a trooper who pursues the bushranger.
- A Game of Chance (1919) - novel about two soldiers returning from Europe when their boat is sunk and one impersonates the other
- A Rough Passage (1920) - novel adapted into a 1920 filmA Rough Passage-External links:* at National Film and Sound Archive...
. - Fettered by Fate (1921) - novel
- The Boss o'Yedden (1922) - novel
- A Colt from the Country (1922) - novel
- The Boy from Bullarah (1925) - novel
- The Squatter's Secret (1927) - novel
- A Good Recovery (1928) - novel
- Gaming for Gold (1929) - novel
- A Crooked Game (1930) - novel
External links
- Arthur Wright at AustLit (subscription required)