Henry Lawson "One Hundred and Three" Poem animation Australian

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• published: 13 Jun 2011
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Heres a virtual movie Henry Lawson (17 June 1867 2 September 1922) was an Australian writer and poet . Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period, and is often called Australia's "greatest writer" reading one of his best loved poems "One Hundred and Three" . Despite his position as the most celebrated Australian writer of his time, Lawson became deeply depressed and perpetually poor in his final years. He lacked money due to unfortunate royalty deals with publishers. His ex-wife repeatedly reported him for non-payment of child maintenance, resulting in gaol terms. He was gaoled at Darlinghurst Gaol for drunkenness and non-payment of alimony, and recorded his experience in the haunting poem "One Hundred and Three" - his prison number - which was published in 1908. He refers to the prison as "Starvinghurst Gaol" because of the meagre rations given to the inmates. Henry Lawson (17 June 1867 -- 2 September 1922) was an Australian writer and poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period, and is often called Australia's "greatest writer".[1] He was the son of publisher and feminist Louisa Lawson. Henry Lawson was born on 17 June 1867 at Grenfell in NSW, to Niels Larson, a Norwegian miner who had changed his name to Peter Lawson, and his wife Louisa. Lawson had an unhappy childhood and his parents separated when he was young. Lawson was a lonely and unpopular child at school, often unable to attend due to isolation and moving from place to place with his parents. His isolation was made even worse when he was left partially deaf due to a childhood illness. Lawson left school in 1880 and moved to the Blue Mountains to work as a builder with his father. In 1883 he moved to Sydney to live with his mother and became an apprentice coach painter to Hudson Bros Ltd, studying at night to matriculate. Unable to cure his deafness, find a better job or suceed in his studies, Lawson began to write. Inspired by his mother's republican friends, his first published poem, 'A Song of the Republic' appeared in the Bulletin in 1887. His first published short story, 'His Father's Mate', appeared shortly after his father's death. He began working as a journalist, writing articles for the Republican as well as publishing verse. In 1891 Lawson was hired by the Brisbane publication the Boomerang, contributing prose and verse, as well as writing for the Worker. However the Boomerang ran into trouble and Lawson was let go. He then divided his time between odd jobs, writing and carousing. Falling into a rut, J. F.Archibald sent Lawson to Bourke at the Bulletin's expense. The memory of this time, with its drought and hardships, would colour his work for the rest of his life. Work inspired by this period includes 'The Bush Undertaker', 'The Union Buries its Dead' and the short story collection While the Billy Boils in 1896. The same year another book was published, In the Days When the World was Wide and Other Verses. He also married Bertha McNamara in that year. Returning from a trip to the Western Australian goldfields, Lawson began drinking heavily in the company of his friends. Bertha moved to New Zealand to try to remove Lawson from their influence, however when Bertha fell pregnant they returned to Sydney and Lawson returned to his old friends and habits. Lawson became obssessed with wanting to write in England and, sponsored by Earl Beauchamp, he finally took his family to England in 1900. Joe Wilson and his mates was written and published in London, however the climate and ill health forced the family to return to Sydney in 1902. Lawson entered a decline. His wife left him, he drank heavily and attempted suicide. He was gaoled for failing to pay maintenance and spent time in mental hospitals. Although he was writing, his worked suffered and critics accused him of maudalin sentimentality. Works from this period include The skyline riders and other verses (1910), Triangles of life and other stories (1913) and My army, o my army! and other songs (1915). Friends arranged spells in the country and the Commonwealth Literary Fund granted him a pension of one pound a week but his alcoholism and deterioration continued. He died of a cerebral haemorrhage at Abbotsford on 2 September 1922. A legendary figure and friend of prominent politicians, Lawson was granted a state funeral. Lawson is best remembered as one of Australia's greatest poets and story writers, and is most popularly known for his bush tales. Kind Regards Jim Clark All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2011