Robbery Under Arms

Robbery Under Arms is a novel by Rolf Boldrewood, first published in 1888. It is known for its exciting and realistic portrayal of pioneer life in Australia. The novel achieved classic status and was immensely popular, partly due to its use of Australian vernacular, as presented by the narrator, Dick Marston, who confesses his involvement in gang activities. Boldrewood, whose real name was Thomas Alexander Browne, was born in London in 1826 and taken to Australia as a child. He had a varied career, including operating a farm and working as a police magistrate and goldfields commissioner, experiences that likely informed his writing.12