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.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.
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
See also 1911 in Australian literature Mum Dawson Boss at Ausstage