SOURCE: An introduction to The Stories of Henry Lawson, first series, edited by Cecil Mann, Angus and Robertson, 1964, pp. vii-xiv.

In the following excerpt, Mann outlines Lawson 's career and assesses his significance as a short story writer.

Henry Lawson, never one without literary honour, has now already attained, or been invested with, a nationally unique status. He has become personally a romantic legend. At his best a great writer in his medium, he appears in this present concept as one who is himself seen first, standing in the forefront of his literary fame. As thus popularly known, legendary and alive in the legend, he occupies here much the same position that Robert Burns holds among Scots, and has not had to wait even half the time specified by his overseas counterpart: "Don't be afraid. I'll be more respected a hundred years after I am dead than I...