Book Cover of For the Term of His Natural Life

For the Term of His Natural Life

by Marcus Clarke

For the Term of his Natural Life, written by Marcus Clarke, was published in the Australian Journal between 1870 and 1872 (as His Natural Life), appearing as a novel in 1874. It is the best known novelisation of life as a convict in early Australian history. Described as a "ripping yarn", and at times relying on seemingly implausible coincidences, the story follows the fortunes of Rufus Dawes, a young man transported for a murder which he did not commit. The harsh and inhumane treatment meted out to the convicts, some of whom were transported for relatively minor crimes, is clearly conveyed. The conditions experienced by the convicts are graphically described. The novel was based on research by the author as well as a visit to the penal settlement of Port Arthur, Tasmania.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

1872

Authors

Marcus Clarke  image

Marcus Clarke

United States

Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke was an English-born Australian novelist, journalist, poet, editor, librarian and playwright. He is best known for his 1874 novel For the Term of His Natural Life, about the...

Books by Marcus Clarke

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

Tschun Cover image

Tschun by Elisabeth von Heyking

The novel follows Tschun, a young Chinese boy in Peking, who is drawn to the colonial embassies and secures a position as a boy, despite his family's...

Sheridan Road Mystery Cover image

Sheridan Road Mystery by Paul Thorne

In the tranquil neighborhood of Sheridan Road, a chilling incident unfolds. A gunshot echoes through the night, drawing Patrolman Murphy to an enigmat...

History of Henry Esmond, Esq., A Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Queen Anne Cover image

History of Henry Esmond, Esq., A Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Queen Anne by William Makepeace Thackeray

A classic Victorian novel and a historical novel rolled into one! Read about court and army life during the reign of Queen Anne - a story of Catholic...

La letra escarlata Cover image

La letra escarlata by Nathaniel Hawthorne

En una sombría y rígida comunidad puritana del siglo XVII, una misteriosa letra escarlata aparece bordada en el vestido de una joven mujer. ¿Quién es...

Trent's Last Case Cover image

Trent's Last Case by Edmund Clerihew Bentley

Trent's Last Case is a classic detective novel by E. C. Bentley, featuring the highly erudite artist and reporter, Philip Trent. When Sigsbee Manderso...

בחורף In Winter Cover image

בחורף In Winter by יוסף חיים ברנר Yosef Haim Brenner

Yosef Haim Brenner (1881-1921) was a Ukrainian-born Hebrew-language author, one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew literature. Born to a poor family, Br...

caso Leavenworth Cover image

caso Leavenworth by Anna Katharine Green

El caso Leavenworth es una novela de misterio que gira en torno al asesinato de un hombre rico, dejando a sus jóvenes sobrinas en una situación precar...

Girl at Central Cover image

Girl at Central by Geraldine Bonner

Set in the bustling 1920s New York City, "Girl at Central" follows Molly Morganthau, a day operator at the telephone exchange. When a murder occurs, M...

Prison Life in Andersonville Cover image

Prison Life in Andersonville by John Levi Maile

Imagine a prison camp where thousands of prisoners died from disease, starvation, and exposure, all while the Confederate government turned a blind ey...

Guns of Shiloh Cover image

Guns of Shiloh by Joseph A. Altsheler

This book follows the journey of Dick Mason as he joins the Union Army during the Civil War. Following the Union's defeat at Bull Run, the story shift...

Reviews for For the Term of His Natural Life

No reviews posted or approved, yet...