Roberts used his experiences freely in his books, the first being
The Western Avernus(1887). Roberts began his long series of novels and short stories in 1890. Of his novels,
Rachel Marr (1903) was highly praised by William Henry Hudson, and
The Private Life of Henry Maitland (1912), based on the life of George Gissing the novelist, was possibly his best known book. Roberts also wrote essays, biography, drama and verse, and did some competent work in biology. He married Alice, daughter of A. R. Selous, and died in London aged 84 on 8 June 1942.
Approximately 80 of Roberts' books are recorded in E Morris Miller's
Australian Literature. He was only a few years in Australia, but there are many Australian references both in his novels and his short stories.
Short Stories include:
- King Billy of Ballarat and Other Stories, Lawrence & Bullen (London), 1892 (including: "Father and Son")
- Red Earth, Lawrence & Bullen (London), 1894 (including: "Wide Bay Bar".)
- The Keeper of the Waters, Skeffington & Son (London), 1898 (including: "The Anticipator".)
- Midsummer Madness, Eveleigh Nash (London), 1909 (including: "The Bood Fetisch")