Such Is Life

Such Is Life is a classic Australian novel that blends bush realism, satire, and philosophy into a loose, episodic narrative.

The book follows Tom Collins, a reflective and opinionated narrator whose travels through rural Australia bring him into contact with squatters, selectors, shearers, and drifters. Rather than a tightly plotted story, the novel unfolds as a series of encounters, conversations, and digressions—often humorous, often critical—that paint a vivid picture of late 19th-century bush life.

What really defines Such Is Life is its voice. Furphy uses dense, playful language packed with irony, literary allusions, and philosophical musings. Through Tom Collins, the novel explores themes like:

the harshness and absurdity of life in the bush

social injustice and class conflict

fate, chance, and human resilience

the gap between idealism and reality

The title itself becomes a kind of shrug at misfortune—that’s life. Though challenging at times, the book is celebrated for its realism, wit, and uniquely Australian perspective, and it’s often considered one of the foundational works of Australian literature.