Such Is Life

Tom Collins' is the pen name of Joseph Furphy, and it's no coincidence that 'furphy' is an Australianism for a story of dubious accuracy. This book, written in the early years of the century, is funny, moving and full of 'the real Australia', but unlike many such yarns, it's also a genuine piece of literature, with a complex plotline and surpisingly modern construction. After The Magic Pudding, it's the best book to read if you want a glimpse of Anglo-Celtic Australian heritage.