Readers' reviews from Amazon.com:
This book was first published in 1930 and was reprinted some 13 times up to 1955 by Angus and Robertson Publishers. It is a light hearted, fun comedy set in Sydney in the racy 30's. The story concerns the escalating problems that beset a typical Australian 'bludger' (lazy type), his immature 18 year old son and his silly brother in-law, when the man's wife leaves him, having been encouraged to do so by her venomous sister and sniffly mother. It is a fun read, although perhaps getting slightly dated now and a bit mysoginistic. It is faintly reminiscent of the escalating humour of 'The Adventures of Barrie McKenzie' (an Australian comic strip by Barrie Humprhires (Dame Edna Everidge) and turned into a film by Bruce Beresford in the mid 70's) and also perhaps Crocodile Dundee because of its colloquial Australian flavour and euphimisms.
A Sentimental Journey Back To Innocence
It is a crying shame for Australian literature that Lennie Lower wrote but one novel in his lifetime 'Here's Luck'. However at the same time as we lament the lack of a more volumous collection of work, let us be thankful that the hard drinking, hard talking Lower found time to chip in with this sweet reminder of Australia leading up to the depression era of the 1930s.
The book comprises of a short timespan in the life of Jack Gudgeon and his family, living in Sydney during the late 1920s. Jack Gudgeon is used by Lower as his champion of the working man (although I use the term working very loosely)! Gudgeon is left to fend for himself when his wife Agatha and her sister depart the household leaving only reprabate son Stanley for company.
The story follows Jack and Stanley's unorthodox approach to living without Agatha which consists of chopping up the furniture for fuel, many meals of steak and eggs, and parties with fairly dramatic conclusions.
Lower writes constantly with tongue in cheek but where as it would be easy to criticise sections of the book as misogynistic, I believe that Jack Gudgeon (in his own unique style) comes to the conclusion late on that perhaps he truly recognises how important Agatha his wife is to him. An example being when he describes the realization he got out of 'hugging the same pair of hips every night'.
Perhaps this book is now dated, nearly a quarter century since initial publication; however for me that just adds to the charm of the narrative. A good read for anyone wishing to escape the confusion of the modern world for a while.
This book was first published in 1930 and was reprinted some 13 times up to 1955 by Angus and Robertson Publishers. It is a light hearted, fun comedy set in Sydney in the racy 30's. The story concerns the escalating problems that beset a typical Australian 'bludger' (lazy type), his immature 18 year old son and his silly brother in-law, when the man's wife leaves him, having been encouraged to do so by her venomous sister and sniffly mother. It is a fun read, although perhaps getting slightly dated now and a bit mysoginistic. It is faintly reminiscent of the escalating humour of 'The Adventures of Barrie McKenzie' (an Australian comic strip by Barrie Humprhires (Dame Edna Everidge) and turned into a film by Bruce Beresford in the mid 70's) and also perhaps Crocodile Dundee because of its colloquial Australian flavour and euphimisms.
A Sentimental Journey Back To Innocence
It is a crying shame for Australian literature that Lennie Lower wrote but one novel in his lifetime 'Here's Luck'. However at the same time as we lament the lack of a more volumous collection of work, let us be thankful that the hard drinking, hard talking Lower found time to chip in with this sweet reminder of Australia leading up to the depression era of the 1930s.
The book comprises of a short timespan in the life of Jack Gudgeon and his family, living in Sydney during the late 1920s. Jack Gudgeon is used by Lower as his champion of the working man (although I use the term working very loosely)! Gudgeon is left to fend for himself when his wife Agatha and her sister depart the household leaving only reprabate son Stanley for company.
The story follows Jack and Stanley's unorthodox approach to living without Agatha which consists of chopping up the furniture for fuel, many meals of steak and eggs, and parties with fairly dramatic conclusions.
Lower writes constantly with tongue in cheek but where as it would be easy to criticise sections of the book as misogynistic, I believe that Jack Gudgeon (in his own unique style) comes to the conclusion late on that perhaps he truly recognises how important Agatha his wife is to him. An example being when he describes the realization he got out of 'hugging the same pair of hips every night'.
Perhaps this book is now dated, nearly a quarter century since initial publication; however for me that just adds to the charm of the narrative. A good read for anyone wishing to escape the confusion of the modern world for a while.
