5. Another journey with another Frank

You may think this trivial, but in writing the above sub-heading (‘The position of the working class …’) I was unsure which title to put first, although this would seem simple; Power Without Glory⁽¹⁾ was published in 1950, while Legends From Benson’s Valley⁽²⁾ was published in 1963.  Problem solved: the first book should come first.  But if we look at the stories in the Benson’s Valley collection, we see that they include ‘The Load of Wood’, and if we search a little further and discover the (undated!) The Man from Clinkapella and other prize-winning stories, we’re told that ’The Load of Wood’ was included in the 1946 Coast to Coast collection (Angus & Robertson), and most of the Benson’s Valley collection feel as if they come from the same cast of mind, if not the same period.  The Benson’s Valley stories pre-date the outlook of Power Without Glory.  In fact, the last story of all, ‘The Stranger from Melbourne’, appears to have been placed at the end of the book for the purpose of making a transition between the worlds of Benson’s Valley (Bacchus Marsh, Victoria) and Collingwood (renamed Carringbush), also in Victoria.

Benson’s Valley, at the time of Hardy’s stories, is in the grip of the Great Depression. [read more]