Arthur William Upfield
- Born:
- September 1, 1890, Gosford, England
- Died:
- February 13, 1964, Bowral, New South Wales, Australia
- Nationality:
- Australian (naturalized)
- Profession(s):
- Author
Early Life and Education
- Emigrated to Australia in 1911 after being dismissed from a draper's firm in London.
- Worked various manual labor jobs, including fencing, droving, and opal mining.
- Received limited formal education.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began writing detective fiction in the 1920s.
- Created the character of Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte, a half-Aboriginal detective.
- His novels are known for their detailed descriptions of the Australian outback and Aboriginal culture.
- Published 29 Bony novels, as well as other works.
Notable Works
- The Barrakee Mystery (1929)
- The House of Cain (1930)
- The Sands of Windee (1931)
- Death of a Lake (1932)
- Wings Above the Diamantina (1936)
- The Bone is Pointed (1938)
- Mr. Jelly's Business (1937)
- The Widows of Broome (1950)
Legacy and Impact
Arthur William Upfield, whose career is central to understanding the genre of Australian detective fiction, left a significant legacy through his "Bony" novels. He is remembered for bringing the Australian outback and Aboriginal perspectives to a wider audience, though his portrayals are sometimes considered dated by modern standards. The enduring popularity of his work reflects his unique contribution to crime literature.
Bony Series Chronology
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| The Barrakee Mystery | 1929 |
| The House of Cain | 1930 |
| The Sands of Windee | 1931 |
| Death of a Lake | 1932 |
| The Lure of the Bush | 1933 |
| The Beach of Atonement | 1933 |
| Wings Above the Diamantina | 1936 |
| Mr. Jelly's Business | 1937 |
| The Bone is Pointed | 1938 |
| Winds of Evil | 1937 |
| Bushranger of the Skies | 1940 |
| The Mystery of Swordfish Reef | 1939 |
| Death Comes to Camelot | 1941 |
| Murder Down Under | 1943 |
| The Devil's Steps | 1946 |
| An Author Bites the Dust | 1948 |
| The Mountains Have a Secret | 1948 |
| The Widows of Broome | 1950 |
| The Cake in the Hatbox | 1955 |
| Bony Buys a Woman | 1957 |
| Bony and the Mouse | 1959 |
| The Mystery of the Grieving Tree | 1960 |
| Bony and the Black Virgin | 1959 |
| Bony and the White Savage | 1961 |
| The Will of the Tribe | 1962 |
| Bony and the Kelly Gang | 1963 |
| Bony and the Echoing Bells | 1971 |
| Bony and the Island Mystery | 1968 |
| Bony and the Whispering Ruby | 1969 |