A Commonwealth of Thieves : The Improbable Birth of Australia (Paperback)

from charlie68

A good enveloping account of the arrival of prisoners to the penal colony of what is now Australia. Mr. Keneally knows his subjects inside-out and brings a unique perspective to the events.

from arubabookwoman

I first heard of Thomas Keneally 25 or so years ago when I read his novel Confederates, a story about the US Civil War. I'm not a Civil War buff, and can't say I know its history in depth, but I was extremely impressed by this novel (not sure I even knew he is Australian). He is most well-known f...

from stevrbee

Well written story of the first European peopling of Australia at the penal colonies in Sydney and on Norfolk Island.

from Oreillynsf

The founding of Australia is astonishing, especially when Keneally tells it. This book chronicles this story in such an epic way. Switching constantly and intriguingly from politics and global issues to the ordinary lives of Australia's white residents, you get a sense of the interconnectedness o...

from SpaceyAcey

Very good! I could not put it down.