Why was Henry Lawson Famous?

Henry Lawson, born on the Grenfell goldfields in New South Wales in 1867, became one of Australia's best-known fiction writers of the colonial period. Most of his works dwelt on the Australian bush, accurately depicting the difficult conditions of life on dry, dusty outback stations and in bush towns.

Lawson gained a loyal following when the Bulletin started to publish his stories and poems in 1888. He was best known for works such as "While the Billy Boils", "Over the Sliprails" and his prolific short stories which smacked of dry humour and often had an ironic twist.

Unlike his contemporary, A.B. "Banjo" Paterson, he did not romanticise life in the bush, and the humour he displayed tended to be dry and sardonic, rather than like Paterson's larrikin wit. Lawson died in 1922.