----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret Usmar" <margaretusmar@gmail.com> To: <aus-convicts@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2008 1:38 AM Subject: [AUS-CON] Books suitable for beginner >I have only just embarked on the convict research for my tree, and >would > appreciate advice from anyone who can recommend a reference title or > two > that I can use to read up on the subject. I'm in England but I can > order > books from overseas, and our library system can often obtain titles > for us > to borrow. I am most interested in what actually happened to the > convicts > after their arrival in Australia. Hi Margaret I am sure you would find it helpful to have some back ground knowledge of early Australian history and geography and a decent map to study . There are 3 excellent novels I could recommend but to get benefit from these you need some knowledge as to why the fledging colony prison nearly didnt survive . Where are the Blue Mountains and why were they such a barrier ?? etc etc There is a deal of general NSW convict info to be found on http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts www.records.nsw.gov.au have alot of indexes re convicts Google can find more ! There is also a lot of info in book form only and CD . I have alot of these at home . And books of specific parts of the convict era ............ eg on the First Fleet and Second Fleet and on the convicts on a particular transport ......... ' Convicts of the 'Lady Juliana' is one The 3 novels are ' the Fatal Shore' by Robert HUGHES, which deals with convicts to the Colony of NSW. ' The Potato Factory' by Bryce COURTNEY , about convicts in Tasmania . Morgan's Run by Colleen McCULLOCK about convicts sent to Norfolk Island . I stress all are novels Perhaps your local library might have something by historian Professor Geoffrey BLAINEY ? http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/blainey/ Or by Charles MANNING CLARK ? http://www.dinkumaussies.com/ACADEMIA%2FManning%20Clark.htm What is your convicts name ? Bye MargM Beautiful NSW Central Coast NSW