For the Term of His Natural Life


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(4.6 stars; 14 reviews)

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. (summary from Wikipedia)
(18 hr 20 min)

Chapters

Dedication and Prologue 24:51 Read by Landii
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 01 - The Prison Ship 17:02 Read by Landii
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 02 - Sarah Purfoy 15:56 Read by Landii
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 03 - The Monotony Breaks 6:14 Read by Landii
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 04 - The Hospital 9:27 Read by Landii
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 05 - The Barracoon 14:09 Read by Landii
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 06 – The Fate Of The "Hydaspes" 22:42 Read by Arfuhrm
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 07 – Typhus Fever 18:06 Read by Arfuhrm
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 08 - A Dangerous Crisis 15:49 Read by Arfuhrm
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 09 – Woman's Weapons 11:12 Read by Arfuhrm
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 10 – Eight Bells 16:11 Read by Arfuhrm
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 11 – Discoveries And Confessions 10:52 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 12 – A Newspaper Paragraph 1:27 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 01 - The Topography Of Van Diemen's … 7:13 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 02 – The Solitary Of "Hell's Gates" 7:35 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 03 - A Social Evening 22:30 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 04 - The Bolter 7:14 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 05 - Sylvia 6:44 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 06 - A Leap In The Dark 16:59 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 07 – The Last Of Macquarie Harbour 10:47 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 08 – The Power Of The Wilderness 13:52 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 09 – The Seizure Of The "Osprey" 12:26 Read by Landii
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 10 – John Rex's Revenge 14:52 Read by Jesse Noar
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 11 – Left At "Hells Gates" 28:32 Read by Jesse Noar
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 12 – "Mr." Dawes 19:09 Read by Jesse Noar
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 13 – What The Seaweed Suggested 8:59 Read by Magdalena
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 14 – A Wonderful Day's Work 17:36 Read by Magdalena
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 15 – The Coracle 15:19 Read by Magdalena
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 16 – The Writing On The Sand 11:22 Read by Magdalena
Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 17 - At Sea 13:22 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 01 - A Labourer In The Vineyard 27:30 Read by Tony Ashworth
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 02 – Sarah Purfoy's Request 22:33 Read by Tony Ashworth
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 03 – The Story Of Two Birds Of Prey 22:06 Read by Tony Ashworth
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 04 – "The Notorious Dawes" 17:58 Read by Tony Ashworth
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 05 – Maurice Frere's Good Angel 14:17 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 06 – Mr. Meekin Administers Consolation 16:11 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 07 – Rufus Dawes's Idyll 11:20 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 08 – An Escape 8:19 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 09 – John Rex's Letter Home 20:15 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 10 – What Became Of The Mutineers Of The "… 30:04 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 11 – A Relic Of Macquarie Harbour 6:34 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 12 – At Port Arthur 14:23 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 13 – The Commandant's Butler 11:00 Read by Mark Welch
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 14 – Mr North's Indisposition 18:35 Read by Mark Welch
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 15 – One Hundred Lashes 14:30 Read by TriciaG
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 16 – Kicking Against The Pricks 11:04 Read by TriciaG
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 17 – Captain And Mrs. Frere 10:05 Read by Landii
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 18 – In The Hospital 7:17 Read by Landii
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 19 – The Consolations Of Religion 7:53 Read by Landii
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 20 – A Natural Penitentiary 7:09 Read by Landii
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 21 - A Visit Of Inspection 18:54 Read by Landii
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 22 – A Gathering In The Threads 25:20 Read by Landii
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 23 – Running The Gauntlet 12:28 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 24 – In The Night 14:53 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 25 – The Flight 10:24 Read by Jesse Noar
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 26 – The Work Of The Sea 26:16 Read by Magdalena
Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 27 – The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death 15:36 Read by Magdalena
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 01 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re… 27:07 Read by Tony Ashworth
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 02 – The Lost Heir 24:44 Read by Landii
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 03 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re… 18:35 Read by Tony Ashworth
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 04 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re… 10:34 Read by Tony Ashworth
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 05 – Mr. Richard Devine Surprised 10:17 Read by Landii
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 06 – In Which the Chaplain Is Taken Ill 13:34 Read by Landii
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 07 – Breaking A Man's Spirit 9:33 Read by Landii
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 08 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re… 10:03 Read by Magdalena
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 09 – The Longest Straw 11:08 Read by Magdalena
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 10 – A Meeting 16:04 Read by TriciaG
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 11 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re… 8:14 Read by TriciaG
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 12 – The Strange Behaviour Of Mr. North 13:21 Read by TriciaG
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 13 – Mr. North Speaks 14:23 Read by TriciaG
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 14 – Getting Ready For Sea 22:33 Read by TriciaG
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 15 – The Discovery 15:38 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 16 – Fifteen Hours 7:33 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 17 – The Redemption 11:33 Read by Sibella Denton
Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 18 – The Cyclone 13:01 Read by Sibella Denton
Epilogue 1:14 Read by Landii

Reviews

worth listening to


(4 stars)

I came across this book while listening to the writings of Mark Twain in which it was recommended. This is one of the great boons of LibriVox in that I came across this work which otherwise I would never have heard of. The story was well read by the volunteers and it gives an account of life in the penal colonies of Australia. I found the plot satisfying yet a bit confusing in places

great story


(5 stars)

well read books and gives a picture of what life would have been like back at that time