Rolf Boldrewood
Rolf Boldrewood was the pen name of Thomas Alexander Browne, an influential Australian writer who vividly depicted the harsh realities of pioneer life in Australia. Born in London and relocating to Australia at a young age, Boldrewood's early life as a land squatter in Victoria profoundly influenced his writing. He gained diverse experiences working as a shepherd, a police magistrate, and a gold commissioner, all of which enriched his understanding of Australian society and its challenges during the 19th century.
His most renowned work, "Robbery Under Arms," published in 1888, is a novel that narrates the adventures of a condemned outlaw, intertwining themes of crime and heroism. The character of Captain Starlight, who features prominently in the story, has sparked discussions regarding his real-life inspirations, as Boldrewood described him as a blend of various bushrangers he encountered. Captain Starlight has since become an iconic figure in Australian folklore, inspiring numerous film adaptations. Overall, Boldrewood's contributions to literature provide significant insights into the culture and history of Australia during a transformative era.
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Rolf Boldrewood
- Born: August 6, 1826
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: March 11, 1915
- Place of death: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Biography
Rolf Boldrewood was the pseudonym used by Thomas Alexander Browne, an Australian land squatter who wrote about the rugged conditions of Australian pioneer days. Boldrewood was born in London, the son of Sylvester Browne, an officer in the East India Company and a shipowner. When Boldrewood was five, his family moved to Australia, sailing with a load of convicts his father was transporting. Boldrewood was educated at W. T. Cape School in Melbourne. At the age of seventeen, he took up the life of a squatter in the Port Fairy district of Victoria. After working the bush as a shepherd, Boldrewood served as both a police magistrate and a gold commissioner in New South Wales.
Boldrewood’s experiences as a squatter informed his most famous novel Robbery Under Arms (1888). In the book, a condemned outlaw recalls many of his exploits, including many carried out in cahoots with the infamous Captain Starlight. The novel set off an argument about the origin of the Starlight character, with Boldrewood claiming that Starlight was a composite of several bushrangers he had known. Whatever his origin, Starlight occupies a place in the pantheon of Australian folk heroes, and his exploits have been adapted for film several times since Boldrewood first committed them to paper.