The poor man: law and satire in 19th century New South Wales

A vibrant tradition of political satire emerged in the newspapers of New South Wales in the 1860s. "The Poor Man", a political satire that represented the conservative position on the politics surrounding the land law, is reproduced in this book. "The Poor Man", published as a serial in the "Sydney Mail" from March to September 1864, chronicled `the extraordinary adventures met with, and of the strange sights seen and of the curious things heard, by Mr Redde Pepper.' Mr Pepper was determined to find a character he believed was the recipient of all law reform - the `poor man'. Mr Pepper's adventures ran to eighteen instalments. His descriptions are not only revealing insights into the values and shared assumptions of colonial society, but a marvellous exposition of conservative attitudes to the social transformation brought about by the gold rush and manhood suffrage.