Australia'S Birthstain: The Startling Legacy of the Convict Era - Hardcover

This work offers a controversial, yet intelligent new perspective on Australia's convict foundations. Why is it that Australians are still misled by myths and half-truths about their convict heritage? Why are so many families surprised still to find a convict ancestor in their family tree? And why did an entire society collude to cover up its past? "Australia's Birthstain" is a controversial, yet intelligent volume that traces the stories of hundreds of convicts over the 80 years of convict transport to Australia, painting a rich picture of their crimes in Britain and their lives in the colonies. Many people know about the notorious chain gangs and penal settlements of Port Arthur and Norfolk Island, but few realize that most of the convicts sent to Australia went on to become fine citizens and to form the backbone of a new nation.

Babette Smith is an independent historian and best-selling author.