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Great Convict Stories
Dramatic and moving tales from Australia's brutal early years
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Great Convict Stories
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See moreGraham Seal brings to life the brutal Australian convict transportation system with stories of notorious criminals, colourful characters, and harsh punishments. There were also happy endings for the men and women for whom transportation was an opportunity to start afresh in a new land.
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Description
'Graham Seal has the knack of the storyteller.' - Warren Fahey AM
Graham Seal takes us back to Australia's ignominious beginnings, when a hungry child could be transported to the other side of the globe for the theft of a handkerchief.
It was a time when men were flogged till they bled for a minor misdemeanour, or forced to walk the treadmill for hours. Teams in iron chains carved roads through sandstone cliffs with hand picks, and men could select wives from a line-up at the female factory. From the notorious prison regimes at Norfolk Island, Port Arthur and Macquarie Harbour came chilling accounts of cruelty, murder and even cannibalism.
Despite the often harsh conditions, many convicts served their prison terms and built successful lives for themselves and their families. With a cast of colourful characters from around the countryβthe real Artful Dodger, intrepid bushrangers like Martin Cash and Moondyne Joe, and the legendary nurse Margaret CatchpoleβGreat Convict Stories offers a fascinating insight into life in Australia's first decades.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781760527488
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 January 2019
Country: Australia
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 268g
Pages: 304
About the Author
Graham Seal is Professor of Folklore at Curtin University, and a leading expert on Australian cultural history. He is the bestselling author of Great Australian Stories, Great Anzac Stories, Larrikins, Bush Tales and Other Great Australian Stories,Great Australian Journeys and Great Bush Stories.
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