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For the Term of His Natural Life

Gelesen von LibriVox Volunteers

(4,607 Sterne; 14 Bewertungen)

For the Term of his Natural Life, written by Marcus Clarke, was published in the Australian Journal between 1870 and 1872 (as His Natural Life), appearing as a novel in 1874. It is the best known novelisation of life as a convict in early Australian history. Described as a "ripping yarn", and at times relying on seemingly implausible coincidences, the story follows the fortunes of Rufus Dawes, a young man transported for a murder which he did not commit. The harsh and inhumane treatment meted out to the convicts, some of whom were transported for relatively minor crimes, is clearly conveyed. The conditions experienced by the convicts are graphically described. The novel was based on research by the author as well as a visit to the penal settlement of Port Arthur, Tasmania. (summary from Wikipedia)
(18 hr 20 min)

Chapters

Dedication and Prologue

24:51

Read by Landii

Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 01 - The Prison Ship

17:02

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 02 - Sarah Purfoy

15:56

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 03 - The Monotony Breaks

6:14

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 04 - The Hospital

9:27

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 05 - The Barracoon

14:09

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 06 – The Fate Of The "Hydaspes"

22:42

Read by Arfuhrm

Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 07 – Typhus Fever

18:06

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 08 - A Dangerous Crisis

15:49

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 09 – Woman's Weapons

11:12

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 10 – Eight Bells

16:11

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Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 11 – Discoveries And Confessions

10:52

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 01 – The Sea. 1827. Chapter 12 – A Newspaper Paragraph

1:27

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 01 - The Topography Of Van Diemen's …

7:13

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 02 – The Solitary Of "Hell's Gates"

7:35

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 03 - A Social Evening

22:30

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 04 - The Bolter

7:14

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 05 - Sylvia

6:44

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 06 - A Leap In The Dark

16:59

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 07 – The Last Of Macquarie Harbour

10:47

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 08 – The Power Of The Wilderness

13:52

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 09 – The Seizure Of The "Osprey"

12:26

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 10 – John Rex's Revenge

14:52

Read by Jesse Noar

Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 11 – Left At "Hells Gates"

28:32

Read by Jesse Noar

Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 12 – "Mr." Dawes

19:09

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 13 – What The Seaweed Suggested

8:59

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 14 – A Wonderful Day's Work

17:36

Read by Magdalena

Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 15 – The Coracle

15:19

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 16 – The Writing On The Sand

11:22

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Book 02 – Macquarie Harbour. 1833. Chapter 17 - At Sea

13:22

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 01 - A Labourer In The Vineyard

27:30

Read by Tony Ashworth

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 02 – Sarah Purfoy's Request

22:33

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 03 – The Story Of Two Birds Of Prey

22:06

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 04 – "The Notorious Dawes"

17:58

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 05 – Maurice Frere's Good Angel

14:17

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 06 – Mr. Meekin Administers Consolation

16:11

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 07 – Rufus Dawes's Idyll

11:20

Read by Magdalena

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 08 – An Escape

8:19

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 09 – John Rex's Letter Home

20:15

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 10 – What Became Of The Mutineers Of The "…

30:04

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 11 – A Relic Of Macquarie Harbour

6:34

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 12 – At Port Arthur

14:23

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 13 – The Commandant's Butler

11:00

Read by Mark Welch

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 14 – Mr North's Indisposition

18:35

Read by Mark Welch

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 15 – One Hundred Lashes

14:30

Read by TriciaG

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 16 – Kicking Against The Pricks

11:04

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 17 – Captain And Mrs. Frere

10:05

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 18 – In The Hospital

7:17

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 19 – The Consolations Of Religion

7:53

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 20 – A Natural Penitentiary

7:09

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 21 - A Visit Of Inspection

18:54

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 22 – A Gathering In The Threads

25:20

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 23 – Running The Gauntlet

12:28

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 24 – In The Night

14:53

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 25 – The Flight

10:24

Read by Jesse Noar

Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 26 – The Work Of The Sea

26:16

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Book 03 – Port Arthur. 1838. Chapter 27 – The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

15:36

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 01 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re…

27:07

Read by Tony Ashworth

Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 02 – The Lost Heir

24:44

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 03 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re…

18:35

Read by Tony Ashworth

Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 04 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re…

10:34

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 05 – Mr. Richard Devine Surprised

10:17

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 06 – In Which the Chaplain Is Taken Ill

13:34

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 07 – Breaking A Man's Spirit

9:33

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 08 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re…

10:03

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 09 – The Longest Straw

11:08

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 10 – A Meeting

16:04

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 11 – Extracted From The Diary Of The Re…

8:14

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 12 – The Strange Behaviour Of Mr. North

13:21

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 13 – Mr. North Speaks

14:23

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 14 – Getting Ready For Sea

22:33

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Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 15 – The Discovery

15:38

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 16 – Fifteen Hours

7:33

Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 17 – The Redemption

11:33

Read by Sibella Denton

Book 04 – Norfolk Island. 1846. Chapter 18 – The Cyclone

13:01

Read by Sibella Denton

Epilogue

1:14

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Bewertungen

worth listening to

(4 Sterne)

I came across this book while listening to the writings of Mark Twain in which it was recommended. This is one of the great boons of LibriVox in that I came across this work which otherwise I would never have heard of. The story was well read by the volunteers and it gives an account of life in the penal colonies of Australia. I found the plot satisfying yet a bit confusing in places

great story

(5 Sterne)

well read books and gives a picture of what life would have been like back at that time