Tim Causer

This is another open access book available from UCL press. Unlike many of their other academic books, I found it very easy to read from start to finish, even without prior knowledge of the topic.

Its topic is a first-hand account of the earliest documented escape from Australia by transported convicts. Editor Tim Causer provides the social and political context around transportation before piecing together the (most likely) events of the escape itself. Amazingly, the group of escapees (including infants) all survived the 3000 mile ocean journey to West Timor, although several of them subsequently died while being returned to England - that's some dramatic irony! Their fates in England were also traced, and there's a rather interesting discussion of how Jeremy Bentham used details the incident in support of his proposed panopticon.

Unsurprisingly, myths of all kinds grew up around the escape. There are several published accounts, claiming (and achieving) a greater or lesser degree of accuracy and embellishment. There have even been plays and television productions.

The later part of the book is a reproduction of the original manuscript pages. It is suggested these were written by a few of the survivors while in Newgate Gaol.

Overall, I found this quite a fascinating read. Definitely worth a look.… (plus d'informations)