The Commonwealth of Thieves
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The Commonwealth of Thieves
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Narrated by:
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Simon Vance
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By:
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Thomas Keneally
About this listen
A lively history of the 'First Fleet' which took convicts from Britain to Australia in 1787; Sydney's early years as 'an open-air prison'; and the colonisation of New South Wales.
The story of modern Australia begins in 18th-century Britain, where people were hanged for petty offences but crime was rife and the gaols were bursting. From this situation was born the Sydney experiment, with criminals perceived to be damaging British society transported to Sydney, an 'open air prison with walls 14,000 miles thick'.
Eleven ships were dispatched in 1781 and arrived in Australia after eight hellish months at sea. Tom Keneally describes the first four years of the 'thief colony' and how, despite the escapes, the floggings, the murders and the rebellions, it survived against the odds to create a culture which would never have been tolerated in its homeland but which, in Australia, became part of the identity of a new and audacious nation.
©2006 The Serpentine Publishing Co. (Pty) Ltd (P)2006 Tantor Media, IncWhat listeners say about The Commonwealth of Thieves
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Cook
- 22-09-2023
very enjoyable listen
well narrated, sympathetic narrative of both sides (english and indigenous) which kept my attention throughout
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Rebecca Dunn
- 19-05-2019
Interesting but a bit monotonous
Struggled to get through it. Very informative but found the speaking didn't vary in pitch and speed enough, so I lost track often.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-01-2023
A very informative book
I’m very important document. Fascinated to get some insight into the workings of colonisation in Australia. Feel very sad for the indigenous people of the country because of the effects of what is really an invasion.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amelia
- 13-02-2021
All Australians should indulge
A fascinating and accessible history of English settlement of Australia. I learnt many things. The English were cruel to many but most particularly their own people.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Nautrual
- 21-09-2020
A most vivid account of Australian settlement
Without judgement Thomas weaves the stories of the individual lives of convicts, soldiers sea captains, and free settlers, those of Benelong, Barangaroo and the Eora people with that of Arthur Philip and other British officials into a complex colorful tapestry that brings to vivid life the story of the meeting of two cultures, two nations, two world views. A subject that is often as dry as ships biscuit when presented in grade school history books comes to life under the exquisite penmanship of Keneally as he depicts events of settlement through the intertwining life stories of the many lives allowing the reader to become almost intimately acquainted with the characters through their diary entries thus giving the reader almost the sense of having lived the experience first hand as a fly-on-the-wall observer, a voyeur-to-the-events that began the story of Australia. Engaging enthralling enlightening and best of all... entertaining!!
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymon
- 10-09-2020
Full 5 star
A remarkable book on the early British settlement of Australia and the relationship of the settlers and convicted men and woman with the native Australians. The narration is particularly pleasant with Simon’s lovely voice and English. I’ll listen again one day soon because Thomas has filled the book with so much material that it is easy to miss some while musing over it.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul H Bowers
- 19-08-2021
Well read.
Excellent early history of our first settlers.
If you want to learn about Australian history, this is a great place to start.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-04-2022
The Commonwealth of Thieves
This book provided details of the settlement of Sydney, a city that I personally enjoy, I especially appreciated the aspect of the interaction with the Aboriginal people, I would recommend it to anyone interested in such like historic time lines.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brian J Smith
- 11-02-2021
Loved this book
Great story line, wonderful research, excellent narration. My heart ached for many of the men and women of 1788. I also understand from an indigenous perspective what a disruption to their world.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David
- 20-07-2019
history but not history
kenally writes clearly. this is a well researched and informative book. written in the style of a novel nevertheless it provides an informed view of early European settlement.
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6 people found this helpful