Henry Lawson wrote a series of stories set in the city slums of Jones’s Alley. Arvie Aspinall and his mother were two of the inhabitants of Jones’s Alley. In this podcast episode, we discuss Arvie and the stories in which he and his mother feature. We also discuss the autobiographical connections between Henry Lawson and the character of Arvie.

Lawson works discussed in the episode:

Two Boys at Grinder Brothers. Originally published in Worker, 7 Oct 1893. Collected in Over the Sliprails (June 1900).

Arvie Aspinall’s Alarm Clock. Originally published in The Bulletin, 11 June 1892. Collected in While the Billy Boils (August 1896).

Jones’s Ally. Originally published in three parts in Worker, 1, 8, & 15 June 1892. Collected in While the Billy Boils (August 1896).

A Visit of Condolence. Originally published in The Bulletin, 23 April 1892. Collected in While the Billy Boils (August 1896).

His Mother’s Mate. Originally published in The Bulletin, 6 July 1895.