Fun Facts Friday: Henry Lawson

Henry Lawson (17 June, 1867 – 2 September 1922) was one of the best-known Australian bush poets and writers of fiction during the colonial period.

Books by Henry Lawson*

Fun Facts about Henry Lawson:

1. Born in the town of Grenfell goldfields of New South Wales, Australia, Henry Lawson was the son of Norwegian immigrant Neils Lawson and his wife, Louisa Albury. Louisa was a poet, writer, editor, feminist, and suffragette. Neils was a miner.
2. Lawson’s mother, Louisa published her son’s first book of poetry, around 1904.
3. An ear infection during his childhood left Henry Lawson deaf by the time he was fourteen years old. As a result, reading became his way of learning since he learned little in the classroom.
4. He worked with his father in the building trades, but soon moved to Sydney to be with his mother. Here he could study at night hoping to pass the entry criteria for a university. Unfortunately, he did not pass.
5. Henry Lawson, however, went to the Wickham School of Arts.
6. Journalist and writer Mary Gilmore and Henry Lawson were in a very serious relationship around 1890. According to Ms. Gilmore, they were unofficially engaged – the couple, however, never did. Their relationship is fictionalized in the play All My Love by Ann Brooksbank.
7. In 1896 Mr. Lawson married Bertha Bredt, Jr. daughter of the prominent socialist Bertha Bredt. The couple had two children, Joseph and Bertha. The marriage, however, ended in divorce.
8. Even though Henry Lawson lived in Sydney, a city, like many Australians he had much experience in the outback.
9. Henry Lawson was considered the most celebrated Australian poet of his time. Despite that acclaim, he constantly lacked money due to bad royalty deals he made.
10. Near the end of this life, Henry Lawson became a withdrawn alcoholic, unable to cope with everyday tasks and routines.

Books by Henry Lawson*

Zohar — Man of la Book
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account, the money is usually spent on books