From convicts to Fine Cotton , this is a collection of fascinating reads about various rogues, ratbags and rascals in Australia’s history – including mystery , deception , murder , greed and corruption , a ‘ gentleman thief’ , gang warfare , larceny ,swindling , forgery , spies ,sheep and cattle rustling and some extraordinary feats of courage and endurance .Extensively researched, the legends are examined and the complex, many-faceted characters vary from some of the most reprehensible to the unfortunates whose ‘ crimes’ were wrongfully penalised.
It is divided into three parts, with a total of fifteen chapters overall . Written in a deceptively breezy and at times casual style ,there is an introduction and at the end a bibliography. Illustrations are scattered throughout. However, there is no index. A couple of the stories intersect and at least three of the people detailed have had plays written about them.
Particularly for the convict era , class structure , poverty and society’s attitudes are discussed as are the Draconian laws one could be sentenced to hang or be transported for.
The book details delinquents from the seamy side since 1788 – for example Mary Bryant ,the convict who escaped in 1791 from the then harsh Sydney penal settlement and survived shipwrecks and storms to return to England .And James Hardy ( ‘ Flash Jim’ ) Vaux , who was transported to Australia three times on different charges. Particularly for the convict era , class structure , poverty and society’s attitudes are discussed as are the Draconian laws one could be sentenced to hang or be transported for.
There’s also Henry James O’ Farrell , the madman who in 1868 attempted to murder Prince Alfred here on a royal tour ( this led to the establishment of RPA). (We also learn about the Irish Fenians) .
Awarded the Victoria Cross , John Leak spun a tissue of lies on the lecture circuit after World War 1 – he was repeatedly charged with insolence, disobedience and being AWOL during his military service . So what was , and what wasn’t true ?
In the 1920’s-30’s we meet drug dealing crime boss Kate Leigh of the menacing razor gangs .
One of the most talked about murder trials in Sydney’s history and a very strange legal case is that of transgender Eugenie Fallini , the woman who murdered his wife.
In our own time (1980’s ) there is the story of John Gillespie and the ring-in gang of the Fine Cotton affair.
A most engaging and illuminating book .
ISBN: 9781761067907
ISBN-10: 1761067907
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 304
Published: 1st November 2022
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Dimensions (cm): 23.4 x 15.3
Weight (kg): 0.41
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Jim-Haynes-9781761067907/