SOURCE: "Some Blokes Down Under," in The New York Times Book Review, February 9, 1958, p. 4.

Grattan was an American educator and critic with a special interest in Australian literature. In the following review, he provides an overview of the major themes of Lawson's short fiction.

Up to this moment, only those American readers who have chanced upon the writings of Henry Lawson in English or Australian editions have had the very great pleasure of savoring the work of this master of the short fictional narrative. Now Lyle Blair has arranged the first publication of a selection of stories and verses [The Selected Works of Henry Lawson], and it is to be fervently hoped that what he has assembled will find its way into the hands of every last American who enjoys making literary discoveries.

I am not at all certain that it was wise to mix Lawson's poetry with...