Showing results by author "Henry Handel Richardson" in All Categories

The Getting of Wisdom, a wicked and satirical novel on the pain and confusion of growing up, first appeared in 1910. A century later, it has lost none of its bite. One of the most memorable characters in Australian fiction, Laura Rambotham, aged 12, enters the portals of an exclusive girls' school eager to be accepted. But this precocious country girl is snubbed and ridiculed by her fellow students, who are richer, more attractive, and more adept at dealing with life's hypocrisies.

Dive into the captivating tale of Richard Mahony, a doctor from Edinburgh who ventures to Ballarat during the bustling gold rush of the 1850s. Initially starting as a shopkeeper, Richard eventually marries and returns to his true calling in medicine. His journey is intricately linked with the lives of his wifes siblings, painting a rich tapestry of family and ambition. Despite achieving success in his practice, Richard grapples with discontent in the colony, prompting a desire to return to Britain. A complex and restless character, Richards story is believed to mirror that of the authors own ...

Dive into the captivating world of The Getting of Wisdom, where we follow 12-year-old Laura Rambotham as she embarks on a new journey at her boarding school. Inspired by Henry Handel Richardsons own experiences at the Presbyterian Ladies College in central Melbourne, this story unfolds against the backdrop of early 20th century Australia. As Laura navigates the complexities of friendships, rivalries, and the academic challenges of her new environment, she discovers that her education leaves her unfulfilled, and her social life starkly contrasts with that of her classmates. Join Laura as she ...

Henry Handel Richardson, the pen name of Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson, was born in 1870 into a relatively affluent family that later faced financial difficulties. Growing up in various Victorian towns, Richardson attended the Presbyterian Ladies College in Melbourne from ages 13 to 17—a pivotal experience that shaped her novel, The Getting of Wisdom. The story follows Laura Tweedle Rambotham, the imaginative eldest daughter of a country family, who delights in spinning romantic tales for her younger siblings and is an avid reader. Proud yet sensitive, Laura struggles to meet her mother...

Laura Tweedle Rambotham tiene doce años y es de una familia venida a menos. Su madre se gana la vida como costurera, pero está decidida a que tenga una buena educación, lo que para ella se resume en el siguiente lema: «Prefiero que seas buena y útil antes que inteligente». La envía a un prestigioso internado de Melbourne, donde lo primero que aprende la chica es que debe ocultar su origen y el modesto oficio de su madre. La escritora de esta novela se basó en su propia experiencia en el Presbyterian Ladies College de Melbourne para escribir esta novela.