Doreen

A Verse Novel in the Australian Vernacular

By: Clarence James Dennis

Narrated by: Denis Daly

Length: 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Clarence James Dennis (1876-1938) was a journalist and poet and is most famous for his prolific versifying in Australian vernacular. He wrote four verse novels:

• "The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke" (1915)
• "The Moods of Ginger Mick" (1916)
• "Doreen" (1917)
• "Rose of Spadgers" (1924)

The most famous of these is the first, in which Bill, a larrikin (or hoodlum) who operates in the gangland environment of Little Lon (referring to Little Lonsdale Street, in the central business district of Melbourne), meets and falls in love with Doreen. After enduring various tribulations and misunderstandings, the two marry and settle on a farm.

In the third verse novel, "Doreen", the subject of the present recording, the focus is on Bill's home environment. Bill, now transformed from a bitter thug to a steady and peaceful family man, bickers with Doreen over household issues, like the chopping of firewood, the raising of their son, young Bill, and medical treatment. Bill finds himself consistently outsmarted by his loyal - but strong-minded - wife and yields with wry grace to her manipulations and ministrations. The poem is divided into four sections:

• "Washing Day"
• "Logic and Spotted Dog"
• "Vi'lits"
• "Possum"

Public Domain (P)2015 Denis Daly