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Mum Dawson, 'Boss' is a 1911 Australian novel by Sumner Locke.

She adapted it into a play in 1917 that was popular.

The book established Locke's reputation.

Critical reception

Writing in The Worker a reviewever noted: "There is good material in Sumner Locke's Mum Dawson, Boss. (Bookstall Series.) The writer would have made better use of it by leaving out much unnecessary realism and getting more into sympathy with the characters. As it is, however, there is plenty that is readable and amusing."

1917 Play Adaptation

The play version was produced by Bert Bailey.

Locke was the first Australian woman to have her work produced by commercial theatre management.

References

1. "Austlit — Mum Dawson, Boss by Sumner Locke". Austlit. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
2. "Commercial Success with". The Sun. No. 1890. New South Wales, Australia. 18 June 1939. p. 11 (Sunday Magazine). Retrieved 6 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
3. B. G. Andrews, 'Locke, Lilian Sophia (1869–1950)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/locke-lilian-sophia-7763/text12487, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 6 February 2024.
4. ""Doings of the Dawsons"". Worker. The Worker, 10 August 1911, p21. 10 August 1911. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
5. ""MUM DAWSON, BOSS."". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 24, 663. New South Wales, Australia. 22 January 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 6 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "STAGE GOSSIP". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 23, 773. Victoria, Australia. 14 October 1922. p. 11. Retrieved 2 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Mum Dawson. Boss". Referee. No. 1567. New South Wales, Australia. 10 January 1917. p. 14. Retrieved 6 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

See also

• 1911 in Australian literature
• Mum Dawson Boss at Ausstage

• 1917 plays
• 1910s Australian plays
• 1911 Australian novels
• 1911 debut novels