Great Convict Escapes

In Colonial times Australia was considered the perfect prison - a place of impenetrable bush and wide oceans. But hundreds of convicts did escape. Most were recaptured, some perished in the bush, others limped back half starved, a few even lived with the Aborigines, and some such as William Westwood better known as Jacky Jacky had a short but spectacular career robbing travellers on the roads of southern New South Wales. Those, however, who favoured the sea route to freedom often found sanctuary on Pacific Islands, while others reached South America or even made their way back to England. Among the latter was William Swallow who twice got back to London, only to be recognised on each occasion and transported back to Van Diemen's Land. This book is a collection of the more extraordinary tales. Drawn from the memoirs of men and women who made the escapes as well as from official documents, the daring and adventure of these tales are equal to any in fiction.