Great Convict Stories: Dramatic and Moving Tales from Australia's Brutal Early Years by Graham Seal
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 country — the real Artful Dodger, intrepid bushrangers like Martin Cash and Moondyne Joe, and the legendary nurse Margaret Catchpole — Great Convict Stories offers a fascinating insight into life in Australia's first decades.
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.
Format: Paperback | 304 pages
Dimensions (cm): 19.8 x 12.9 x 2.2 | 276g
Publication Date: 07 Jan 2019
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication City/Country: Crows Nest, SYD, Australia
Language: English
Illustrations note: b&w illustrations
Edition Number: 1
ISBN10: 1760527483
ISBN13: 9781760527488
Condition: Good
A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including tiny scuff marks along the edges, and creasing on the top-left corner of the back cover, but no holes or tears. All pages are undamaged with no creasing or tearing, no pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text and no writing in margins. No missing pages.