I remember many years ago learning that Australia was the place that England sent their prisoners to settle in the late late 1700's. It was interesting to see that it did not result in complete lawlessness and for decades--which is what I had thought. I was glad to learn the details of the settling of Australia, but I thought some of the characters were really strange.

This is the fascinating story of the first of 3 colonizations of Norfolk Island off of the coast of Australia in the late 1700's. Well researched, Richard Morgan is a multi generationed ancestor of McCullough's husband (the couple still live on Norfolk Island). Morgan is a man of many talents in Bristol, England. He has a wife and daughter he adores, works in his father's pub and has saved a fair amount of money with dreams for his own home. Time is not generous to him and circumstances beyond his control have him imprisoned and awaiting trial that will send him to transport as a convict. The American Colonies will not accept any as indentured servants and the decision is made to send to settle the new lands that Cook has found. Conditions are called a land of milk and honey but the voyage takes a full year and then the real trials begin to settle the unknown with few tools, poor rations, fewer women and martial law. A should be read.

I don't know the last time it took me this long to read a book this short. (It's 600 pages...which isn't really a "short" book.) However,the length of time it took me to this book would be for a novel in the 1500+ range and likely a literary classic. Many times I wanted to just give up, but I am too stubborn and it causes me more pain to not finish a book, than drag through a bad one. Ultimately for a topic that should have been interesting (founding of Australian colonies by English convicts) was just REALLY boring. I loved McCullough's Rome series, particularly the first novels. Maybe I have a higher tolerance for dry historical fiction set in the early Roman Empire era?

Audiobook. Book and narration 4 stars.

2025 Audiobook Addicts Reading Challenge prompt 4: Celebrity Narrator (Tim Curry).

This novel is a heavy read; full of historical details of the 18th century colonization of Australia. The author has created for the reader a great drama and a powerful story. For some it could be somewhat boring as McCullough often gets bogged down in period trivia but I enjoyed it and found this novel very entertaining.

McCullough's work is hard to get through as it can be over the top with excessive information about stuff like how they distilled rum back in pioneering times. She has some weird sexual themes in all of her novels. I respect her as an author though because while she has the same broad themes in her books, like December/June relationships, sexually repressed men, etc, each book has very different characters that express those themes. It's historical fiction. It's good for that.

I really got caught up in this book about the first convict ships to transport felons to Botany Bay. This epic story about the first white people to settle Australia (not their choice) showed how awful the criminal justice system was in the late 18th century. Richard Morgan's story was heart breaking and inspirational.

This book would have been half the length if McCullough didn't spend so much time describing how attractive, hardworking, great in bed, patient, etc... Richard Morgan is. I get it. He's an exceptional guy. More Australia please.

Richard Morgan lives in 1700s Bristol, England. He's got a wife he loves, a difficult father, and a child. Small tragedies occur but the theme of the beginning of the story is that Richard just plods along. He's not a go-getter, a leader, a think-for-yourselfer. The tragic loss of a loved one sends him into despair and a few life altering decisions and relationships don't go his way and Richard- a perfectly good, normal, plain sort of guy ends up being convicted of a crime and being transported to New South Wales where the UK is starting their penal colony.

Hundreds and hundreds of pages go by. They describe the horror, filth, grime, disease, and cruelty of being a convict stuck on 3 different ships (including a former slave ship) for a year as a prisoner. For a lot of the book it seems as if nothing really exciting is happening. But yet, I kept turning the pages. I think part of it was that in the beginning Richard was always described as someone not worth noticing- but there was a hint that he could be a great man- if he needed to be.

That's pretty much what happens. Time and time again, Richard is forced to step up and take command, be a guide, a trusted worker, sometimes a mother hen. Occasionally he complains about it but what we, the reader, sees is that he thrives at being a strong man. A respected man.

Eventually Richard finds his place in a nearby colony- Norfolk Island. He has work, home, and respect. He believes strongly that all the trials and horrors of his past where that so he could end up where he is- happy and productive with a second chance at life. The book takes its time. It can sometimes seem a little dry. But overall I think it's a good tale.I realize that instead of being a story that is plot driven, it's very much a story about a man who starts one way and changes and develops into a stronger, wiser man. Someone you want to know, or have on your side, a contributing member to society.

I'm on an Australia kick I guess -- I read this book and loved learning about the first convict shipment to the penal colony of New South Wales. I didn't even realise Norfolk Island was one of the first penal settlements until reading this book. I found this story hard going at first, then really enjoyed it.

I read this because I was going to Australia for the first time and this was easy to get my hands on. I haven't read much of Colleen McCullough since The Thorn Birds, which I remember loving. This was very long, longer than it had to be, but it kept my atttention enough to get me all the way through it. I was also reading some history on the side, so it was interesting to see what she focused on.

An absolutely first rate book. The first 200 pages were a bit boring but suddenly it got my attention and I didn't want to put it down.
The research undertaken is daunting. A great insight into the first landings of the English migration.
I was so sorry to see it end and I have not found that she has continued the story in a new book. If anyone does know of a followup book please let me know.