Author In-Conversation: Anthea Hodgson

Anthea Hodgson’s The Palace of Lost Virtue is a story about the friendship between a sinner and a saint, and the space in between.

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:
Anthea Hodgson is a country girl from the WA Wheatbelt. She worked as a radio producer in WA, NSW and Queensland before returning to WA, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is the author of The Drifter, The Cowgirl and the highly acclaimed 2023 historical novel based on the Bangka Island Massacre, The War Nurses. She is co-host of the Rachael Johns Book Club on facebook and the podcast Reading Between Deadlines.

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