Bullock Creek

by Barry Crump

BARNEY CARTER - "...sharp as a sack-needle and as tough as a wool-pack." - returns to his old stamping-ground in the high-country of the Southern Alps and meets up with a bunch of hard and colourful merino sheep-farmers.

Barney wins their respect and they accept him by bestowing upon him a nickname that will stick to him for the rest of his life. He takes up the challenge of wintering it out on Bullock Creek Station,on the bleak slopes of the Barker Range,and has to use all his knowledge,experience,ingenuity and luck to get himself and the widow and the stock alive through the worst winter on record.

There's a bit of skulduggery going on and The Doughroaster deals with it in his own unique and entertaining way.

Bullock Creek is an adventure story about a rapidly-disappearing lifestyle,written in the vivid style that distinguishes Barry Crump's writing. and which has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of readers,both here and abroad.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

New Zealand author of semi-autobiographical comic novels based on his image as a rugged outdoors man.

Crump worked for many years as a government deer-culler in areas of New Zealand native forest (termed "the bush"). He wrote his first novel, A Good Keen Man, in 1960, based on his experiences as a government hunter. It was a fictional account of a young hunter who has to suffer through a series of hunting partners who are often unsuitable for the job. This novel became one of the most popular in New Zealand history,

Crump died in 1996 of a suspected aortic aneurysm. At the time of his death he was living at Ohauiti with his fifth wife, Maggie.

abridged from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Oscar van der Beek · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Crump's later novels, 'Bullock Creek' makes it clear, I think, that in the later years of his life Crump was attempting to move in a more literate direction from his classic yarns. This novel is wonderfully understated and visceral, with all the hallmarks of the self-taught writer who despite their lack of formal study has a natural talent for storytelling.
While the events of station life and the back-blocks politics take up the majority of the action, there is a wonderfully understated romance that in typical kiwi stoicism never expresses itself in flowery professions, but is seen through the actions of the characters.
'Bullock Creek' is a fantastic little read, it is a shame that Crumpy didn't live long enough to continue exploring his literary ability.

[Keturah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bullock Creek by Barry Crump



4 stars

This was an enjoyable read, but I think I'll need another pass at it to fully grasp a lot of the vernacular. It's about a New Zealand farmer/rancher who agrees to let his sons run the ranch while he takes a year off. But he can't just relax. Instead he goes and runs someone else's ranch. He has no problem navigating the people trying to take advantage of the widow he's helping.

He's pretty slick and comes away with more money than he started with while upsetting cheats along the way. I'll definitely be checking out more by this author!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smashing book!

I’ve done a bit of rough work myself, when I was young, but nothing like this!

I came across another of Crump’s books a while back - Wild Pork and Watercress - after seeing the movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople (I’m a fan of Sam Neil) and liked it enough to start looking for more. Have got four Kindle editions now and will keep adding to them when I can. The man could write!

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little read about farming at a remote down and out owner and her station at Bullock Creek in Otago. A wonderful read full of the wit that Crump brings to his work and characters that come to life with the qualities and characteristics synonymous with Kiwis of my parents generation. A quick read but well and truly worth it.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a good yarn. Simply told, just carries you to the high station. What a hard life.

[Rachel Horwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

great kiwi yarn

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less depth than Pork and Watercress but a cozy, entertaining journey.

[Emma Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second favorite book by Barry crump.

[Nzric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters aplenty. This is a great book to give to anyone if they want to understand old-fashioned kiwi character, humour and values. Reading it is like sitting down and tucking into a big plate of roast beef with peas and boiled potatoes.

[Daren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Crump's best books. In my opinion he excels with the clever, hardy, rural characters - hunters or farmers generally, and this book set in Merino country in the lower South Island is a great little book. Like all of Crumps work, the books are short, and very readable. There is no complexity in the writing, but plenty of twists and cleverness in the story.