Deadman's: An Australian Story
# Deadman's: An Australian Story

Deadman's : An Australian Story (1898) is a novel by Australian writer Mary Gaunt.

## Story outline

Jocelyn Ruthven is the goldfields commissioner of "Deadman's Creek". Following dubious advice he enters into a disastrous marriage with a young woman but later meets the right one. The novel details the attempts by all parties to extricate themselves from unwanted relationships and enter into others.

## Critical reception

A reviewer in The Evening News found a number of faults with the book: "Mary Gaunt is well known in the literary world as a clever Victorian authoress; but Deadman's does not quite sustain her reputation...The story lacks a certain amount of spirit in it. It deals with rough life in a rough country; with people at their best and at their worst; and, somehow, the style is too smooth for the subject. The situations strike you as forced, and you have an uncomfortable idea of knowing before-hand what is coming. The author has done better work, and can do better work."

