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Cargo of Women: The History
New edition of the bestselling history that traces the chequered story of 100 women transported together in 1829 to Sydney. Includes new information on the women and treatment of convicts, and new illustrations.
257 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 16, 2013
This is a brilliant look into the life's of the women convicts sentenced to transportation to Australia. Thoroughly researched and well set out from beginning to end. Loved it!
March 3, 2019
Non fiction is a tricky genre to be writing in; how do you take screeds of meticulous research and data of an inherently repetitive nature, and craft it into something readable for a lay audience? I’m not sure Babette Smith has cracked it with this book.
Where it does become eminently readable and compelling however, is in the personal letters and petitions from the women themselves. Encapsulated in the language and cadence of Georgian English, some of it semi-literate, is the authentic voice of the women of that time and place, and they are truly fascinating.
Just a pity that the author couldn’t craft a more interesting way to weave those documents together.
Also there’s some plain old undisciplined editorialising going on throughout the book, could’ve done with a firmer edit.
Where it does become eminently readable and compelling however, is in the personal letters and petitions from the women themselves. Encapsulated in the language and cadence of Georgian English, some of it semi-literate, is the authentic voice of the women of that time and place, and they are truly fascinating.
Just a pity that the author couldn’t craft a more interesting way to weave those documents together.
Also there’s some plain old undisciplined editorialising going on throughout the book, could’ve done with a firmer edit.
April 30, 2018
This was very interesting. I had never read anything about the deportation of people to the penal colony in Australia. This was a little more academic than I usually like.
February 6, 2019
Just a touch dry, too many stories to feel compelled to follow ...love the era
October 12, 2025
An excellent history of the plight of many convict women in the early 1800s in NSW, with focus on Susannah Watson in particular. These women were survivors.
April 7, 2015
Makes you want to read history! Babette Smith's thoroughly researched work, including her other books, just make you hungry to know more.
As a family researcher, my thirst for more information about our convict heritage and the conditions they endured both before and after their transportation led me to discover this book.
The book was written twice by the author, Babette Smith: once as a non fiction work whilst researching her own convict ancestor, and then as a novel based on the facts of those discoveries. Both very good reading in their own right, the books offer insight into the conditions of transportation for women convicts as well as showing the sorts of discoveries that can be made when researching our family history, whether they be emotional or documented discoveries.
I would highly recommend Babette Smith's "A Cargo of Women" 1st and 2nd Editions.
I would also highly recommend "Australia's Birthstain" by the same author, which is very compelling reading and a must read for anyone interested in Australian history.
As a family researcher, my thirst for more information about our convict heritage and the conditions they endured both before and after their transportation led me to discover this book.
The book was written twice by the author, Babette Smith: once as a non fiction work whilst researching her own convict ancestor, and then as a novel based on the facts of those discoveries. Both very good reading in their own right, the books offer insight into the conditions of transportation for women convicts as well as showing the sorts of discoveries that can be made when researching our family history, whether they be emotional or documented discoveries.
I would highly recommend Babette Smith's "A Cargo of Women" 1st and 2nd Editions.
I would also highly recommend "Australia's Birthstain" by the same author, which is very compelling reading and a must read for anyone interested in Australian history.
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February 2, 2011pdf bookfinder
June 27, 2011
A really good way to learn about the history of Australia
Want to Read
July 18, 2013pdf bookfinder
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews