From the book's Preface:
This story was commenced early in the year 1868, for publication in the Colonial Monthly - a magazine of which I became at that
time proprietor and editor. In now presenting it to the public
in a complete form, I will take the opportunity of saying a few
prefatory words.
In reviewing "Long Odds" from time to time, in its brief notices of the Colonial Monthly, the press has frequently blamed the
author for laying the scene in England instead of in Australia.
It seems, at first sight, natural to expect that a story written
by a person living in Australia, published in an Australian
periodical, and offered to an Australian public, should contain
description of nothing that was not purely Australian.
The best Australian novel that has been, and probably will be written, is "Geoffrey Hamlyn", and any attempt to paint the
ordinary squatting life of the colonies, could not fail to
challenge unfavourable comparison with that admirable story.
But I have often thought, and I daresay other Australian
readers have thought also - How would Sam Buckley get on
in England?
My excuse, therefore, in offering to the Australian public a novel in which the plot, the sympathies, the interest, the moral, are
all English, must be that I have endeavoured to depict, with
such skill as is permitted me, the fortunes of a young Australians
will still call "Home".
Marcus Clarke
Collins Street, Melbourne
June 8th, 1869
advertisement