The Challenge (novel)

{{Infobox book|

| name = The Challenge

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = File:TheChallenge.jpg

| caption = First edition

| author = E. V. Timms

| illustrator =

| cover_artist =

| country = Australia

| language = English

| series = Great South Land Saga

| genre =

| publisher = Angus and Robertson

| release_date = 1952

| english_release_date =

| media_type =

| pages = 316pp

| isbn =

| preceded_by = The Valleys Beyond

| followed_by =

}}

The Challenge is a 1952 Australian novel by E. V. Timms. It was the fifth in his Great South Land Saga of novels.

It is set in Australia during the 1850s.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133560747 |title=HISTORY TOLD AS STORY. |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |date=22 November 1952 |accessdate=18 October 2014 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Plot

"On her deathbed, Susan Leigh's mother tells her a strange story, and gives her a strange task to carry out. As a result, Susan sets out to find her father, and justice. Background is Bass Strait, Melbourne, and the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131192267 |title=QUICK LOOKS. |newspaper=The News |location=Adelaide |date=14 November 1952 |accessdate=18 October 2014 |page=11 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

The Gubbys, Martha and Henry, make an appearance.

Reception

The Northern Standard said "The yarn is better than it sounds and should prove popular with those who like historical romance told with some gusto against an Australian background."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49483894 |title="THE CHALLENGE" |newspaper=Northern Standard |volume=8 |issue=1 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=2 January 1953 |accessdate=11 March 2024 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The Adelaide News said it had "Plenty of action and rich, ripe melodrama, but a very readable yarn, nevertheless."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131192267 |title=QUICK LOOKS |newspaper=The News |volume=59 |issue=9,132 |location=South Australia |date=14 November 1952 |accessdate=11 March 2024 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}

The Age said "the story moves swiftly. The chapters on the island are forceful, vivid and effective."{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=27 December 1952|page=10|title=Enjoyable romance}}

The Bulletin criticised "the artificial dialogue and cardboard characterisation" and "the mechanised devices by which Mr. Timms puts into the mouths of his characters long tracts of historical research."{{Citation

| title=Two Bestsellers

| journal=The Bulletin

| volume=74 |issue=3806 |date=21 Jan 1953

| location=Sydney, N.S.W

| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald

| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-532501528

| id=nla.obj-532501528

| access-date=11 March 2024

| via=Trove

}}

Radio adaptation

The novel was adapted for radio in fifteen minute episodes in 1953, read by Lyndall Barbour.{{Citation

| title=No title

| journal=ABC Weekly

| volume=15 |issue=27 |date=4 July 1953

| location=Sydney

| publisher=ABC

| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1549632655

| id=nla.obj-1549632655

| access-date=11 March 2024

| via=Trove

}}

References

External links

[http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C74690 The Challenge] at AustLit
Serialisation in Daily Telegraph - [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248751022 Part One 21 June 1953]

Category:1952 Australian novels

Category:Novels by E. V. Timms

Category:Novels set in the 1850s

Category:Angus & Robertson books

Category:1953 Australian radio dramas

Category:1950s Australian radio serials