Babette Smith Livres

Focusing on the experiences of convicts transported to Australia, the book reveals their diverse backgrounds and the realities of their lives in the colonies. While notorious events like Port Arthur are well-known, many convicts became productive citizens, challenging the narrative of shame surrounding their past. By examining the roles of British politicians and clergy, the author uncovers a deeper historical context, suggesting that the stigma associated with convicts reflects broader societal issues. The work offers a compelling reevaluation of Australia's convict history.

The luck of the Irish was chronic bad luck, as their sad history attests. That's how it looked for 250 Irish convicts when their ship, the 'Hive', sank ignominiously off the NSW coast in 1835. Miraculously all survived, guided to safety by local Aboriginal people...They landed at a time when the so-called slave colony was at its height, ruled by the lash and the chain gang. Yet as Babette Smith tracked the lives of the people aboard the 'Hive', she discovered a very different story. Most were assigned to work on farms or in businesses, building a better life than they possibly could have experienced in Ireland. Surprisingly, in the workforce they found power, which gave rise to the characteristic Australian culture later described by DH Lawrence: 'Nobody felt better than anybody else, or higher.'..'The Luck of the Irish' is a fascinating portrait of colonial life in the mid-19th century, which reveals how the Irish helped lay the foundations of the Australia we know today...'Deeply researched and vividly written, it's a terrific new and up-to-date account of the convict experience, mainly from the bottom up' - 'Emeritus Professor Alan Atkinson FAHA, University of Sydney'..'Brings the convict era to life through personal stories and insightful analysis.' - 'Lindsay Tanner'

New edition of the bestselling history that traces the chequered story of 100 women transported together in 1829 to Sydney. Includes new information on the women and treatment of convicts, and new illustrations.