# Rolf Boldrewood

## Biography

Thomas Alexander Browne, known by his pen name Rolf Boldrewood, was a prominent Australian novelist, born in London, England, on August 6, 1826. He immigrated to Australia at the age of five with his family, experiencing a childhood deeply rooted in the evolving colonial landscape. Educated in Sydney and Melbourne, Browne spent his early adult life as a land squatter and pastoralist in Victoria and New South Wales. These years provided him with a profound understanding of the Australian bush and its unique characters, which would later form the bedrock of his literary career.

After facing financial hardships due to drought, Browne transitioned into public service, working as a police magistrate and gold commissioner in various parts of New South Wales. It was during this period, following a riding accident in 1865, that he began to write. Adopting the pseudonym Rolf Boldrewood, he became celebrated for his vivid depictions of Australian pioneer life, bushranging, and the goldfields. His most famous work, "Robbery Under Arms," published in 1888, is considered a classic of Australian literature, detailing the adventures of a condemned outlaw. Boldrewood was a prolific author, penning numerous novels, short stories, and an autobiography, "Old Melbourne Memories," before his death in Melbourne on March 11, 1915.

## Books

- [In Bad Company and other stories](https://samolit.com/books/96512)
- [Plain Living: A Bush Idyll](https://samolit.com/books/96332)