The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke
Encyclopedia
The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke is a verse novel
by Australian novelist and poet C. J. Dennis
. The book sold over 60,000 copies in nine editions within the first year, and is probably one of the highest selling verse novels ever published in Australia.
The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke tells the story of Bill, a larrikin
of the Little Lonsdale Street
Push, who is introduced to a young woman by the name of Doreen. The book chronicles their courtship and marriage, detailing Bill's transformation from a violence-prone gang member to a contented husband and father.
on 1 April 1909. All bar two of the remaining chapters were also published in that magazine between 1909 and 1915.
The completed work was first published in book form in Sydney on 9 October 1915.
Publication details
in 1919 written and directed by Raymond Longford
, and which featured Arthur Tauchert as Bill and Lottie Lyell
as Doreen; and a "talkie" version in 1932, directed by Frank Thring
from a screenplay by C.J. Dennis.
In 1961, a musical called The Sentimental Bloke was produced in Canberra, and later in Melbourne and other cities. The music was by Albert Arlen
, with lyrics by Arlen, Nancy Brown and Lloyd Thomson.
A television adaptation appeared in 1976, written and directed by Alan Burke and featuring Graeme Blundell
as Bill.
A ballet version of Arlen's musical was choreographed by Robert Ray, with Albert Arlen's music freely arranged by John Lanchbery
. This was presented by The Australian Ballet in 1985, and they presented it on their tour of the Soviet Union
.
released an album of C.J. Dennis poems entitled [The Sentimental Bloke, The poems of C.J. Dennis].
Verse novel
A verse novel is a type of narrative poetry in which a novel-length narrative is told through the medium of poetry rather than prose. Either simple or complex stanzaic verse-forms may be used, but there will usually be a large cast, multiple voices, dialogue, narration, description, and action in a...
by Australian novelist and poet C. J. Dennis
C. J. Dennis
Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis, better known as C. J. Dennis, was an Australian poet known for his humorous poems, especially "The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke", published in the early 20th century...
. The book sold over 60,000 copies in nine editions within the first year, and is probably one of the highest selling verse novels ever published in Australia.
The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke tells the story of Bill, a larrikin
Larrikinism
Larrikinism is the name given to the Australian folk tradition of irreverence, mockery of authority and disregard for rigid norms of propriety. Larrikinism can also be associated with self-deprecating humour.- Etymology :...
of the Little Lonsdale Street
Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Little Lonsdale Street is located in the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. A part of the Hoddle Grid, it runs roughly east-west. North of Lonsdale Street and south of La Trobe Street, Little Lonsdale Street's eastern end intersects with Spring Street while its western end intersects with...
Push, who is introduced to a young woman by the name of Doreen. The book chronicles their courtship and marriage, detailing Bill's transformation from a violence-prone gang member to a contented husband and father.
Contents
- A Spring Song — Bill is discontent but he doesn't know why. He attributes it to the season. He sees a girl whom he describes as his ideal partner.
- The Intro — Bill attempts to talk to the girl, Doreen, but she rebuffs him because he is a stranger. Bill finds out that she works in a pickle factory, and arranges for a man he knows who works there to introduce them. They talk, and later arrange a date.
- The Stoush O' Day — Bill reflects on how time has flown since he met Doreen.
- Doreen — Bill promises Doreen that he'll give up drinking.
- The Play — Bill takes Doreen to see Romeo and JulietRomeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
. - The Stror 'at Coot — A man who wears a boater hat hangs around Doreen. Bill takes offence and fights him. Doreen breaks things off with Bill.
- The Siren — Bill goes to a party and Doreen is there. She sings a song about unrequited love which affects Bill. He follows her outside, and they make up.
- Mar — Bill meets Doreen's mother, who calls Bill "Willy", as her future son-in-law must be respectable. She and Bill begin talking about wedding plans, and Bill's job.
- Pilot Cove — Doreen and Bill go to see the priest to talk about the gravity of marriage.
- Hitched — Doreen and Bill's wedding ceremony. They set off on their honeymoon.
- Beef Tea — Ginger Mick encourages Bill to drink and gamble, and Doreen's feelings are hurt. Bill takes himself outside for a long time, and comes back in, feeling sick. He falls asleep and wakes up to Doreen feeding him beef tea - a staple of invalid cooking - and Bill is astonished that she has forgiven him.
- Uncle Jim
- The Kid
- The Mooch o' Life
Publication details
The first portion of the novel, The Stoush O' Day, was originally published in The BulletinThe Bulletin
The Bulletin was an Australian weekly magazine that was published in Sydney from 1880 until January 2008. It was influential in Australian culture and politics from about 1890 until World War I, the period when it was identified with the "Bulletin school" of Australian literature. Its influence...
on 1 April 1909. All bar two of the remaining chapters were also published in that magazine between 1909 and 1915.
The completed work was first published in book form in Sydney on 9 October 1915.
Publication details
| First Edition | Sydney | 9 October 1915 | 2,500 copies |
| Second impression | Sydney | 2 November 1915 | 5,000 copies |
| Third impression | Sydney | 6 December | 5,000 copies |
| Fourth impression | Sydney | 25 January 1916 | 5,000 copies |
| Fifth impression | Sydney | 22 February 1916 | 7,000 copies |
| Sixth impression | Sydney | 1 April 1916 | 5,500 copies |
| Seventh impression | Sydney | 30 May 1916 | 11,000 copies |
| Eighth impression | Sydney | 1 April 1916 | 5,000 copies |
| Pocket edition | Sydney | 25 September 1916 | 10,000 copies |
| Tenth impression | Sydney | 7 October 1916 | 8,000 copies |
| Eleventh impression | Sydney | 24 October 1916 | 5,000 copies |
| Twelfth impression | Sydney | 17 November 1916 | 5,000 copies |
| Thirteenth impression | Sydney | 2 May 1917 | 5,000 copies |
| Fourteenth impression | London | 1 July 1917 | 5,000 copies |
| Fifteenth impression | Sydney | 1 August 1917 | 5,000 copies |
| Sixteenth impression | London | 21 May 1918 | 5,000 copies |
| Seventeenth impression | Sydney | 14 June 1919 | 3,000 copies |
| Eighteenth impression | Sydney | 31 August 1919 | 3,000 copies |
| Nineteenth impression | Sydney | 20 April 1920 | 3,000 copies |
| Twentieth impression | Sydney | 31 August 1920 | 3,000 copies |
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
Two film versions of The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke have been produced: a silent versionThe Sentimental Bloke
The Sentimental Bloke is an Australian silent film based on the 1915 poem The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke by C.J. Dennis.The film, from the Southern Cross Feature Film Company of Adelaide, was made by Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, at that time the best known partnership in Australian cinema...
in 1919 written and directed by Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
, and which featured Arthur Tauchert as Bill and Lottie Lyell
Lottie Lyell
Lottie Lyell was an Australian actress, screenwriter, editor and filmmaker born in Balmain, Sydney in 1890. She is regarded as Australia’s first film star, and also contributed to the local industry during the silent era with her collaborations with Raymond Longford.-Career:Charlotte Cox pursued...
as Doreen; and a "talkie" version in 1932, directed by Frank Thring
Frank Thring
Frank William Thring was an Australian character actor.-Early life:Thring was born in Melbourne and educated at the Melbourne Grammar School. His father, Frank W. Thring, was the head of Efftee Studios, in Melbourne, in the 1920s, and is said to be the inventor of the clapperboard...
from a screenplay by C.J. Dennis.
In 1961, a musical called The Sentimental Bloke was produced in Canberra, and later in Melbourne and other cities. The music was by Albert Arlen
Albert Arlen
Albert Arlen AM was a Turkish Australian pianist, composer, actor and playwright. He is best known for his musical The Sentimental Bloke , the "Alamein Concerto", and his setting of Banjo Paterson’s Clancy of the Overflow.-Biography:Albert Aarons was born in Sydney in 1905 to Turkish immigrants...
, with lyrics by Arlen, Nancy Brown and Lloyd Thomson.
A television adaptation appeared in 1976, written and directed by Alan Burke and featuring Graeme Blundell
Graeme Blundell
Graeme Blundell is an Australian actor, director, producer, writer and biographer.Blundell was born in Melbourne; he grew up in Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne...
as Bill.
A ballet version of Arlen's musical was choreographed by Robert Ray, with Albert Arlen's music freely arranged by John Lanchbery
John Lanchbery
John Arthur Lanchbery OBE was an English, later Australian, composer and conductor, famous for his ballet arrangements.-Life:...
. This was presented by The Australian Ballet in 1985, and they presented it on their tour of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Recorded versions
In 2009 Jack ThompsonJack Thompson (actor)
Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...
released an album of C.J. Dennis poems entitled [The Sentimental Bloke, The poems of C.J. Dennis].