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The Commonwealth of Thieves
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
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Publisher's Summary
A lively history of the 'First Fleet' which took convicts from Britain to Australia in 1787; Sydney's early years as 'an open-air prison'; and the colonisation of New South Wales.
The story of modern Australia begins in 18th-century Britain, where people were hanged for petty offences but crime was rife and the gaols were bursting. From this situation was born the Sydney experiment, with criminals perceived to be damaging British society transported to Sydney, an 'open air prison with walls 14,000 miles thick'.
Eleven ships were dispatched in 1781 and arrived in Australia after eight hellish months at sea. Tom Keneally describes the first four years of the 'thief colony' and how, despite the escapes, the floggings, the murders and the rebellions, it survived against the odds to create a culture which would never have been tolerated in its homeland but which, in Australia, became part of the identity of a new and audacious nation.
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- Andrew Cook
- 22-09-2023
very enjoyable listen
well narrated, sympathetic narrative of both sides (english and indigenous) which kept my attention throughout
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- Amelia
- 13-02-2021
All Australians should indulge
A fascinating and accessible history of English settlement of Australia. I learnt many things. The English were cruel to many but most particularly their own people.
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- Rebecca Dunn
- 19-05-2019
Interesting but a bit monotonous
Struggled to get through it. Very informative but found the speaking didn't vary in pitch and speed enough, so I lost track often.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-01-2023
A very informative book
I’m very important document. Fascinated to get some insight into the workings of colonisation in Australia. Feel very sad for the indigenous people of the country because of the effects of what is really an invasion.
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- David
- 20-07-2019
history but not history
kenally writes clearly. this is a well researched and informative book. written in the style of a novel nevertheless it provides an informed view of early European settlement.
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5 people found this helpful
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- shanti
- 07-09-2020
Wonderful.
I was worried about reading this book. I was worried about it being “ white history “ all over again so I was pleasantly surprised. T.K. Has put us in touch with the individual people. The convicts , the officers, the indigenous folk. It was sympathetic to everyone and written without judgement for or against anyone. Like excellent journalism Some of the stories really surprised me and left me wanting to know more. Like the story of Barangaroo, Benelongs wife and a fantastic woman. I’ve never read anything on early white Australian history nearly as good as this before.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Chris Dunn
- 08-02-2019
Australia Early Settlement
An excellent account based on the stories by and about the people involved. A sympathetic representation of Arthur Phillip as possibly the unlikely yet ideal governor whose relationship with convicts and aboriginal people promised much understanding and possible reconciliation. Insight into the transformation of rogues and lives in difficult times. Much appreciated.
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- Anonymous User
- 08-01-2021
ecxellent
What a hard time early Sydney siders had ...and what a worse time for the indigenous inhabitants ... the humanity of the struggle and the reality of cultural misunderstanding is told of with compassion and insight. Beautiful.
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- Edmund Doogue
- 20-12-2020
The start of Brit settlement of Australia
This book should be read/listened to by all Australian high school students and by all adult Australians. It's a detailed account of the First Fleet and first years of British settlement. Keneally has done a tremendous job of researching and unearthing what happened and who was involved. It's fascinating.
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- Julie V. Purdey
- 05-10-2023
Another Tour de Force from T Kenneally
I'm a little late finding this book but I'm glad I did. I was enthralled to have my scant knowledge of the landing of the First Fleet and the subsequent birth of NSW/Australia taught to me so eloquently.
Tom Kenneally is the master of accurate, educational, entertaining, historical narrative that is impossible to walk away from. These characters, possibly some of them your own ancestors jump off the page in all their humanity.
My hero is Governor Phillip. The immense task he undertook and carried out to the best of his ability under incredible difficulty would have broken a less ethical person. He was never properly recognised or recompensed by the authorities of the time who seemed to accept that he was just carrying out his duty, a job they themselves could never have considered doing!
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