Transcription of the story of one of Australia's best known convict outlaws, as dictated by Cash himself 120 years ago in a manuscript only recently discovered. An Irish convict, Cash spent nine years in New South Wales before leaving for Hobart where he offended the local constables, was framed, and commenced his career. This publication includes the entire manuscript, including the original author's deletions.
Why is it that Australians are still misled by myths about their convict heritage? Why are so many family historians surprised to find a convict ancestor in their family trees? Why did an entire society collude to cover up its past? Babette Smith traces the stories of hundreds of convicts over the 80 years of convict transportation to Australia....
The latest work from acclaimed historical author Robert Cox, A Compulsion to Kill is a dramatic chronological account of 19th-century Tasmanian serial murderers. Never before revealed in such depth, the story is the culmination of extensive research and adept craftsmanship as it probes the essence of both the crimes and the killers themselves. Beginning in 1806 with Australia’s first serial killers, John Brown and Richard Lemon, A Compulsion to Kill recounts the stories of Alexander Pearce, ‘the cannibal convict’; Thomas Jeffrey, a sadist, sexual predator, cannibal, and baby-killer known as ‘the monster’; Charles Routley, who burnt one of his victims alive; cannibal convicts Broughton and McAvoy; Rocky Whelan, who in twenty-four days slew five men in cold blood; and John Haley, who killed three people in fits of rage. The final chapter investigates the still-unsolved Parkmount murders, three killings for which the two probable culprits twice faced court, only to be discharged due to faulty police investigation and neglected evidence. Most of these stories have never been told before, and none has previously been related with such detail and verifiable accuracy. A determined storyteller, Cox delivers a supremely dramatic page-turner in the true crime genre. The book includes extensive references and an index.
Comprehensive guide to published Australian autobiographical writing which deals with life in Australia up to 1850. Entries are listed alphabetically by author's name. Includes three separate indexes to personal names, places and subjects. Walsh has worked on numerous Australian reference publications. Hooton teaches English at the Australian Defence Force Academy and is co-author of 'The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature' (1985); Walsh is assisting her in preparing a new edition.
Published in conjunction with the National Museum of Australia's, 'Outlawed! Discover the stories behind the world's rebels, revolutionaries and bushrangers' exhibition held at Melbourne Museum 28 May 2004- 10 October 2004.
