Book details
Stingaree
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Stored record
Metadata
- Gutenberg ID
- 26526
- Title
- Stingaree
- Language
- en
- Book source
- Project Gutenberg
- Description max 80 words
-
Set in colonial Australia, Stingaree follows the audacious exploits of the bushranger Stingaree and the complex relationship between the outlaw and the spirited singer Hilda Bouverie. Blending high-society satire with gritty frontier action, this tale explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the blurred lines between criminality and chivalry.
- Summary up to 500 words
-
E. W. Hornung's *Stingaree* presents a thrilling narrative of evasion, romance, and moral ambiguity set against the backdrop of the Australian bush. The story centers on Stingaree, a notorious bushranger who has escaped prison and is being hunted by police forces from both New South Wales and Victoria. His path crosses that of Hilda Bouverie, a talented singer and companion to a wealthy widow. Their reunion reignites a bond formed years prior, when Hilda secretly saved Stingaree's life by stealing the revolver of his pursuer and unloading it before he was shot. The plot unfolds through a series of high-stakes chases and intimate encounters. Stingaree utilizes Hilda's social standing and wealth to evade capture, even deceiving the Governor to protect him. The narrative takes a tragic turn with the death of Duncan, a generous squatter killed by Stingaree, which complicates the outlaw's character and adds layers of moral complexity. As the police close in, Hilda provides Stingaree with funds and jewels to flee to England or America. In a final act of trust and cunning, Stingaree leaves Hilda's house through an open window, disappearing into the night. The novel concludes with the suggestion that Stingaree has vanished from the Australian scene, leaving behind a legacy of incredible criminality and a unique, intense bond between a woman of the world and a man of the road. Hornung explores themes of loyalty, the duality of human nature, and the romantic allure of the outlaw life, culminating in a story where the line between villain and hero blurs through the extraordinary actions of its protagonists.
- LLM editorial rating
- 4.2/5
- Download URL
- https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26526.epub.noimages
- Local file path
-
data/epubs/pg26526.epub - Downloaded at
- 2026-07-03 20:31 UTC
People
Authors
- E. W. Hornung
Classification
Categories
- Adventure
- Fiction