A French-Australian writer: Paul Wenz

© 1948 Dr. Erica WolffPaul Wenz, the Frenchman, came to Australia in 1892, at the age of twenty-three and died at his station, “Rahima”, in New South Wales in 1939. He was an extraordinary person, both as a writer and as a man: living most of his life in Australia, yet never becoming an Australian citizen; a Frenchman leaving his own country to settle overseas – a rare enough thing – and not choosing any of the French colonies, but plumping for a British country, after having roamed North Africa, South America and New Zealand; finally picking Australia; and not only deciding to make his home in the Commonwealth, but determined to go on the land; and not only settling in an outback area, but also writing books; books not about France or things French, but books dealing mainly with Australian or Australian soldiers overseas – and not only writing books, but indeed excellent books, portraying the people and customs of the outback as few have done before or after, combining the best features of French and Australian literary tradition; leavening a gentle, but constructive criticism of Australian habits and oddities with his never failing humour, sensitiveness and sympathy, and preaching as well as living the gospel of good neighbourliness – Henry Lawson’s spirit of mateship-; the whole steeped in a deep admiration for his adopted country, his second home; and in spite of hardships, toil and discouragement loving with all his heart the Australian bush, its solitude, quietness, and all-embracing charm and majesty. To understand this extraordinary personality, we must go back and glance at his childhood at Rheims, discover his relationship with his parents, brothers and sister, look at his upbringing, investigate his tastes and dislikes, follow up his hopes and aspirations, watch him meet visitors from distant countries, and describe his first, though indirect, contacts with Australia