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Full Description
The bold, the bad, and the slightly mad...
Criminality, some say, is part of Australia's national identity, and in Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags Jim Haynes profiles fifteen larger-than-life Aussie rogues - some of our greatest ne'er-do-wells from colonial times to the modern era. These stories uncover the truth and expose the myths about characters ranging from the most despicable examples of humanity, to those whose courage has to be admired and whose so-called 'crimes' were unjustly punished.
This fascinating collection features felons who have sprung from Australia's underbelly since 1788, such as the infamous Kate Leigh of the razor gangs; the convict Mary Bryant, who in 1791 escaped from the Sydney penal settlement and somehow made it back to England; James Hardy Vaux, who was sent to Australia no less than three times; Henry James O'Farrell, the madman who attempted to murder Prince Alfred in Sydney in 1868; and John Leak, who was repeatedly charged with insolence, disobedience and being absent without leave in World War I - and awarded the Victoria Cross.
Told with Jim's inimitable combination of history and humour, Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags is packed with murders, mystery and miscreants: true stories of true criminals from Australia's past.
'a terrific book' -Canberra Weekly
'entertaining . . . highly readable . . . you will find some genuinely amazing new facts and insights.' -ArtsHub
'[Haynes'] research was extensive which adds to making this book extremely interesting . . . There's no doubt this book will delight fans of true crime. True stories of true criminals from Australia's past have definitely resulted in a book that's one heck of a darn good read.' -Australian Rural & Regional News
Contents
Introduction
Mary Bryant - Who Went Home
George Barrington - The Celebrity Convict
Harry Readford - Pioneer Cattle Thief
John Boyle O'Reilly - The Most Distinguished Irishman in America
Jack de Garis - The Prince of Ballyhoo
James Hardy Vaux - The Serial Offender
Arthur Orton - The Wapping Liar
Kate Leigh - The Queen of Crime
Tom Skeyhill - The Fake Hero
Eugenie Fellini - The Woman Who Murdered His Wife
Jørgen Jørgensen - The King of Iceland
Henry James O'Farrell - The Celibate Assassin
George Henry Cochrane - Past Master in Scoundrelism
John Leak - Insubordinate Larrikin
John Gillespie & The Gang of Five
Sources
Acknowledgements
