Friday, February 17, 2006

The Girl from Botany Bay by Carolly Erickson

Mary Bryant was born into a poor family in England. She became a 'highwaywoman,' was sentenced to death, was given a reprieve and sent to Australia with the first batch of convicts, married and had two children, escaped to Timor in a 25-foot boat, was caught, saw both children die, was sent back to England to be punished, caught the fancy of the nation and Samuel Johnson, was given a reprieve, and promptly disappeared from the historical record. Wow.

1 comment:

sylvia/ticklethepear said...

If women in Australia interest you, you'll probably enjoy Damned Whores and God's Police, one of the classics. http://www.annesummers.com.au/dwagp.htm

Sylvia

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