In Conversation with Anthea Hodgson
Humffray Room
The Palace of Lost Virture
Anthea Hodgson
Anthea will be in conversation with local author A J Lyndon
At its core, The Palace of Lost Virtue is a story of female friendship and resilience.
Blending real historical events with beautifully written fiction, the novel shines a light on overlooked chapters of Australian history.
Marigold is a devout Christian working with her mother to save the local women from a life dedicated to sex work. Pansy is one of those sex workers and the owner of Pansy Arlington’s Palace of Pleasure. When the women’s paths cross, what ensues is an extraordinary friendship, a shocking murder trial and a history that gives voice to the lives of the remarkable women who lived and died in the goldfields.
Set in Kalgoorlie between 1898 and 1926, this intimate story of female friendship is drawn from Western Australia’s dark past and real history. Inspired by the real-life murders of policemen Alexander Pitman and John Walsh, this novel threads a brutal act of violence through its narrative. As the investigation unfolds, questions of guilt, justice and truth become increasingly blurred.
The character of Pansy Arlington and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union are also based on real people and movements from the Kalgoorlie area. For around 90 years, Kalgoorlie employed a system called “containment” whereby prostitution was illegal, but brothels could operate if they abided by specific rules. The hidden history of women living on the margins and in the “containment” system exposes the hypocrisy and control embedded in society’s treatment of so-called “fallen” women. In The Palace of Lost Virtue, Anthea challenges the rigid ideas of good and bad women.
At its core, The Palace of Lost Virtue is a story of female friendship and resilience. Amongst hardship, isolation and crime, the bond between Pansy and Marigold becomes a source of strength and survival. Their relationship offers a moving exploration of loyalty and compassion in a world that both divides and judges them.
Blending real historical events with beautifully written fiction, the novel shines a light on overlooked chapters of Australian history. From
the lives of sex workers to infamous murders, Anthea Hodgson brings depth and voice to stories long ignored. With its combination of
emotional intensity and historical insight, The Palace of Lost Virtue is a powerful story of violence, loss and enduring love.
About the author
About host A J Lyndon
$11 per person plus booking fees, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events.
Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042
This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
