Australia Revenged

In Short

This 1894 novel is a peculiar hybrid of a revenge thriller and a satirical social commentary. It follows a man named Reg Morris who, after his fiancée is seduced and abandoned by a serial philanderer named Villiers Wyckliffe, pursues him across the Australian continent to exact a grisly, retributive justice. The narrative blends the tropes of a Victorian "gentleman’s" adventure with a distinctly colonial Australian voice, offering a critique of the British class system, the perceived failures of colonial governors, and the social dynamics of the 1890s. It endures as a fascinating, if aggressive, relic of late-Victorian fiction.

The Story

The story begins in London at the secretive "Detlij Club," a group for men who have been "jilted." Among its members is the arrogant Villiers Wyckliffe, who prides himself on his ability to "will" women into loving him. He sets his sights on Amy Johnson, an Australian girl engaged to a man named Reg Morris. Wyckliffe succeeds in turning Amy’s heart, causing her to break off her engagement and leave Reg devastated.

Reg’s resolve is iron-hard: he vows to follow Wyckliffe and exact revenge. He enlists the help of a woman named Marjorie Williamson, whose own life was ruined by similar men, providing her with the funds to regain her standing so she might eventually secure her own vengeance. Reg then sets sail for Australia, accompanied by an ally named Hal.

As they travel from Adelaide to Melbourne, Launceston, and eventually Brisbane, the hunt becomes a cat-and-mouse game across the colonies. Wyckliffe, realizing he is being pursued, desperately tries to hide, shaving his moustache and disguising himself as a bush tramp to evade his trackers. He makes his way through various social circles, exploiting the hospitality of the local elite who are prone to "toadying" to men of perceived status. Along the way, the protagonists are aided by two resourceful, independent women, Hil and May, who adopt masculine personas and help the men corner their prey.

The pursuit culminates in the Australian outback, where the group tracks Wyckliffe to a remote location. In a chilling act of planned retribution, Reg and Hal capture Wyckliffe and, true to the promise of "ear-marking" him, permanently disfigure the man to serve as a lasting reminder of his crimes. Despite Wyckliffe’s attempts to involve the police and the medical authorities, the perpetrators remain unbothered, moving through colonial society with a casual confidence. The narrative concludes with an extensive appendix in which the author—writing under the collective pseudonym "Boomerang"—drops the fictional veil to offer a stinging critique of British colonial governance, arguing that the colonies have outgrown the need for the sycophantic, performative leadership of the era’s appointed figureheads.

How It Unfolds

The wager of hearts Wyckliffe boasts to his club members about his record of seducing women, setting his sights on the unsuspecting Amy Johnson. This arrogance sets the stage for the conflict that drives the rest of the book.

The vow of vengeance After Amy breaks her engagement, a heartbroken but determined Reg pledges to follow his rival to Australia. He secures his finances and prepares a specialized tool—a die—to ensure his future revenge is precise.

The colonial pursuit The narrative moves through several Australian cities, providing a travelogue of local customs and social rivalries. Each stop brings the hunters closer to the desperate, fleeing Wyckliffe as he attempts to shed his identity.

The transformation of the hunters Reg and Hal are joined by two daring women, Hil and May, who mirror the protagonists' journey. Their involvement introduces a layer of gender-bending subversion that complicates the hunt.

The final confrontation The group corners Wyckliffe in the bush, where the promised act of branding is finally carried out. The aftermath focuses on the social and legal fallout of the assault, which concludes with the victim permanently marked.

The concluding critique The story shifts into a non-fiction appendix, where the author abandons the plot to dissect the political state of the colonies. This final section argues for a new, independent Australian identity, free from the influence of ineffective British officials.

The People

Reg Morris is the primary antagonist of Wyckliffe, a man defined by his singular, cold focus on retribution. His heartbreak transforms him from a standard romantic lead into a methodical, unforgiving executioner.

Villiers Wyckliffe (or "Wyck") is the serial philanderer whose ego serves as the book's engine. He is a predator who views women as "notches" on a belt; his eventual, whimpering flight through the bush serves as the book’s central spectacle of cowardice.

Hal acts as the sharp-tongued, observant companion to Reg. He provides the narrative’s cynicism, often pausing the plot to critique the social behaviors of the colonial elite and the "toadying" nature of the press.

Hil and May are the "girls" who become indispensable to the chase. They are arguably the most capable figures in the book, comfortable in both high-society ballrooms and the rugged outback, possessing a wit that often outpaces the men they assist.

Jones is a minor character—a "lag" or convict—who provides a glimpse into the lower rungs of the colonial justice system. His interactions with Hal and Reg serve to highlight the difference between their gentlemanly status and the realities of the criminal underworld.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the origins of the group that sets the plot in motion:

The name, like the Club itself, is an uncommon one, and is simply indicative of the sad mischance which must befal each member before he can qualify for admission.

Reflecting on the colonial fascination with class and social hierarchy:

They must study public taste, like any other public caterers, and they do so love a lord.

Commenting on the ease with which the protagonist decides to permanently alter the appearance of his rival:

"You've got your die ready; you shall be executioner, I will bring him to the block."

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is a manifesto for "Young Australia." It uses the plot of a personal vendetta to symbolize the colonies' desire to break free from the perceived moral and political bankruptcy of their British "betters." The revenge on Wyckliffe is not merely personal; it is a violent rejection of the aristocratic entitlement he represents. The book questions whether the Australian colonies should continue to look toward London for their social and political cues, or if they should foster their own, more robust, and self-reliant identity. It treats the "colonial" perspective as a rising, inevitable force, contrasting it against the decaying, performative nature of the British ruling class.

Why Read It Today

This book is for those who enjoy the "deep cut" of literary history—readers who are curious about the aggressive, self-assured, and often contradictory voice of late-19th-century colonial fiction. Reading it feels like stumbling upon a polemic disguised as a penny dreadful. The prose is lively and often bracingly mean-spirited toward its targets, which makes for a quick, if occasionally jarring, experience.

Potential readers should be aware that the book is very much a product of its time. Its attitudes toward gender, justice, and class are distinctly Victorian and frequently unapologetic. The "branding" of a rival is treated with a casual, chilling satisfaction that might be difficult for modern sensibilities to stomach. Furthermore, the transition from the narrative into the dry political analysis of the appendix is abrupt, serving as a reminder that the authors were as interested in their political soapbox as they were in the story. However, for those interested in the cultural anxieties of the 1890s, or for those who simply want a revenge story that dares to be as strange as its title suggests, it offers a window into a specific, confident, and frequently brash period of Australian literary ambition.