Anthea Hodgson in conversation with Sophie Green
In 1898, Marigold Harrington arrives on the goldfields of Western Australia with conviction in her heart. The daughter of a prospector and a proud member of the Christian Women’s Temperance Union, she dreams of rescuing women the gold rush has forgotten, those trapped in the shadows of brothels and bars.
Across town, Pansy Arlington presides over the Palace of Pleasure, her own small empire built from ruin. When Marigold arrives at her door, offering God’s forgiveness, Pansy surprises her with unexpected kindness.
The two women spark an unlikely friendship, but in a rough, lawless town built on greed and desire, their bond will be tested by betrayal, violence and a crime that will echo through the years.
Inspired by true events and the real women of the gold rush, The Palace of Lost Virtue dares to rewrite history books, giving voice to the lives of the formidable women who lived and died in the goldfields.
'A stirring work of historical fiction...Fans of Pip Williams should enjoy this atmospheric novel.' Bookseller+Publisher
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.
Sophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time, she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music. Sophie's novels are internationally published, and each has been an Australian Top Ten bestseller. The Frock Shop is her eighth novel.
Date
Wednesday 10 June 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (UTC+10)
Location
Upstairs at Gleebooks
49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW 2037
By the bestselling author of The War Nurses, this is an unforgettable new novel set in the WA goldrush era inspired by real characters and a shocking true crime.
