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carmiendo's review against another edition
5.0
this took forever for me to read, partially because i had it in physical copy and partially because i wanted to look something up on like every page! anyway it was worth it, this was ultimately super good. definitely depressing but from what i can tell that's typical of tasmanian literature (see also: death of a river guide)
helloits_sam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Alcohol, Torture, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Blood, Suicide attempt, Death, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexism
Minor: Racism, Child death, and Ableism
prismsquare's review against another edition
3.0
I got to about 70% of this book and just couldn't continue. I really enjoyed it but it was just so god damn long I ended up just reading a summary of the ending and I'm kind of glad I did as it was not a happy ending. But it was very beautifully written but way to long to hold my attention. I needed to move on to something else
ohmadeline's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tirmer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
textpublishing's review against another edition
5.0
‘Terrible and tragic, but seething with intense human life…A masterpiece.’
Canberra Times
Canberra Times
fourtriplezed's review against another edition
5.0
For the Term of His Natural Life was written between 1870 and 1872 and was serialised at the time in The Australian Journal that was also edited by the book's author Marcus Clarke. My copy read is the Penguin edition 2009 with an Introduction by George Ian Smith.
The intro is worth a read just to discover Mr Smith writing about modern Australia in that “Airlines cross Australia in one day……” and that “……….Only five days flying brings us back to Europe…” There have been marked improvements in travel to and from this island continent in the last decade!
First let’s just say that I am glad that I did not have to read this at school, as has been said elsewhere literature of the Victorian age can be wasted on youthful readers. Certainly, the coincidences and luck in the plot would have driven me to severe criticism back in my youth. Be that as it may, we do tend towards a different outlook into older age as to how we approach and read. This was the first novel of Australian convict literature of note, and also later was described as the first of what has become known as Tasmanian Gothic. At the time of writing, the dark history of convict settlement in Van Diemen's land was still fresh in the memory of the public hence as a reader of colonial history, I now know its place in the cannon and the effect it has had on a reading public.
Clarke wrote in what can be called nowadays a mashup. Combining several known events of brutality into one novel and as a derring-do adventure that combines everything from murder and criminal activity, identity theft and sheer brutality, it makes for a bit of a page turner. It is also a grim reminder of man’s inhumanity to man, no matter the circumstances.
The main protagonist is Richard Devine, the only son and heir of a filthy rich ship builder. Richard uses the name Rufous Dawes in a convoluted inheritance debacle, and when a murder happens is sentenced to life imprisonment to the colonies for crime he did not commit. The title is excellent as we get to read the story of what is indeed the term of his natural life, a life of great tragedy and brutality. The end is what all great Victorian era writers of all nations seemed to like, redemption. I was reminded of The Count of Monte Cristo and Les Miserable even though obviously these are entirely different settings.
I enjoyed the descriptions of Port Arthur and Norfolk Island. Having been to these two very beautiful but also tragic places I was able to visualise the writer's descriptions with ease and there is no doubt in my mind that the gruesome and appalling conditions being these colonial prisons it was not hard to reimagine, such were the excellent descriptions written. I have not been to Sarah Island, the other penal station in this book, but will make an effort in the coming years.
This is considered an Australian classic of the colonial era and has been in continuous publication since.
Highly recommended.
A Tale They won't Believe by Weddings Parties Anything
The intro is worth a read just to discover Mr Smith writing about modern Australia in that “Airlines cross Australia in one day……” and that “……….Only five days flying brings us back to Europe…” There have been marked improvements in travel to and from this island continent in the last decade!
First let’s just say that I am glad that I did not have to read this at school, as has been said elsewhere literature of the Victorian age can be wasted on youthful readers. Certainly, the coincidences and luck in the plot would have driven me to severe criticism back in my youth. Be that as it may, we do tend towards a different outlook into older age as to how we approach and read. This was the first novel of Australian convict literature of note, and also later was described as the first of what has become known as Tasmanian Gothic. At the time of writing, the dark history of convict settlement in Van Diemen's land was still fresh in the memory of the public hence as a reader of colonial history, I now know its place in the cannon and the effect it has had on a reading public.
Clarke wrote in what can be called nowadays a mashup. Combining several known events of brutality into one novel and as a derring-do adventure that combines everything from murder and criminal activity, identity theft and sheer brutality, it makes for a bit of a page turner. It is also a grim reminder of man’s inhumanity to man, no matter the circumstances.
The main protagonist is Richard Devine, the only son and heir of a filthy rich ship builder. Richard uses the name Rufous Dawes in a convoluted inheritance debacle, and when a murder happens is sentenced to life imprisonment to the colonies for crime he did not commit. The title is excellent as we get to read the story of what is indeed the term of his natural life, a life of great tragedy and brutality. The end is what all great Victorian era writers of all nations seemed to like, redemption. I was reminded of The Count of Monte Cristo and Les Miserable even though obviously these are entirely different settings.
I enjoyed the descriptions of Port Arthur and Norfolk Island. Having been to these two very beautiful but also tragic places I was able to visualise the writer's descriptions with ease and there is no doubt in my mind that the gruesome and appalling conditions being these colonial prisons it was not hard to reimagine, such were the excellent descriptions written. I have not been to Sarah Island, the other penal station in this book, but will make an effort in the coming years.
This is considered an Australian classic of the colonial era and has been in continuous publication since.
Highly recommended.
A Tale They won't Believe by Weddings Parties Anything
annieg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Very of its time but I enjoyed this alot! Twists and turns everyone, some that you guess and others that you don't and does nothing to spare your feelings at all
kamwills's review against another edition
4.0
I recently visited a friend in Australia, spending most of my time in Tasmania. In the course of my travels, I visited what remained of the prison settlements in both Macquarie Harbour and Port Arthur. Tour guides at both sites referred to this book quite frequently, and it seemed most of the Australian visitors understood the reference. I had never heard of the book before and was at something of a loss, so I picked up a copy in Hobart.
The novel follows the life of Richard Devine aka Rufus Dawes as he is (wrongfully) convicted of murder, transported to the convict colony of Van Diemen's land, and incarcerated in several prisons. Unable to defend himself, as to do so would bring irrevocable shame upon his mother, he festers in squalid conditions with criminals and convicts. His experiences are relentlessly disheartening, as he watches inferior men and women come to much better ends than he can ever hope to. The only bright spot in his existence is the love he bears for Sylvia, the daughter of Captain Vickers and wife of his ruthless cousin Maurice Frere.
That being said, there aren't too many happy endings in this book. Murder pacts, child suicide, patricide, drownings, floggings, cannibalism, shootings, starvation - all are inflicted on the inhabitants of this book. The suffering described seems excessive, until you realize that these conditions were the norm in the prisons at the end of the world, for the worst of the worst. Which is why I still enjoyed this book a lot, despite the pervasive pessimism it engenders.
Overall the writing is good but not great, with some very clumsy prose exploring the essence of human nature. The story is fairly compelling, although I felt the voyage to Australia dragged on much longer than necessary. As a novel of historical importance, I can certainly see the merit. I wish I had read it before making my trip; even so, it's become an interesting way for me to flesh in my experiences in Tasmania. I recommend it.
The novel follows the life of Richard Devine aka Rufus Dawes as he is (wrongfully) convicted of murder, transported to the convict colony of Van Diemen's land, and incarcerated in several prisons. Unable to defend himself, as to do so would bring irrevocable shame upon his mother, he festers in squalid conditions with criminals and convicts. His experiences are relentlessly disheartening, as he watches inferior men and women come to much better ends than he can ever hope to. The only bright spot in his existence is the love he bears for Sylvia, the daughter of Captain Vickers and wife of his ruthless cousin Maurice Frere.
That being said, there aren't too many happy endings in this book. Murder pacts, child suicide, patricide, drownings, floggings, cannibalism, shootings, starvation - all are inflicted on the inhabitants of this book. The suffering described seems excessive, until you realize that these conditions were the norm in the prisons at the end of the world, for the worst of the worst. Which is why I still enjoyed this book a lot, despite the pervasive pessimism it engenders.
Overall the writing is good but not great, with some very clumsy prose exploring the essence of human nature. The story is fairly compelling, although I felt the voyage to Australia dragged on much longer than necessary. As a novel of historical importance, I can certainly see the merit. I wish I had read it before making my trip; even so, it's become an interesting way for me to flesh in my experiences in Tasmania. I recommend it.