Ikey Solomon was one of Tasmania’s most famous convicts. He allegedly inspired Fagin in Dickens’ Oliver Twist and also featured in The Potato Factory by Bryce Courtenay. Ikey frequented the Hope and Anchor hotel in Macquarie Street, Hobart, and had a tobacco shop on the corner of Elizabeth and Collins Streets.
Now a historical television documentary re-enacting the key events of Ikey’s turbulent life is being made in Hobart. Here’s what my spirit guide Gowa told me about him, as I have related in my book Spirits of Tasmania.
He is a cranky old bastard and a more disgruntled spirit I have yet to meet. Ikey is aware of Charles Dickens basing the story on him but is put out as he thinks he was not as bad as Fagin in the story. He also remembers the smell of tobacco, but can’t tie it in with any earthly experience.
Even now, he has not learnt the lesson of tolerance or how to curb his temper.
He has become very down on everyone but hopefully, as he travels to and fro, he will gain a better understanding of himself and then his true enlightenment will start. At the moment, the world is better off without him.
P.S. I’m still hoping to return to Tasmania when family commitments allow.