For the Term of His Natural Life

Based on a true story, For the Term of His Natural Life (1874) is a powerful realist novel by Marcus Clarke that depicts the brutality and inhumanity of Australias penal colonies. The novel follows Rufus Dawes, a young British aristocrat who is sent to Van Diemens Land and sentenced to life in prison. On board the Malabar, a group of mutineers hatches a plan to take control of the ship, and Dawes is blamed for the attempted mutiny. He is brutalized, isolated, and tortured, leaving him no choice but to plan his unlikely escape. This edition of the novel features a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript.

Format: Hardback
Length: 484 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: West Margin Press

For the Term of His Natural Life is a novel by Marcus Clarke, published in 1874. The novel was inspired by a journey the author took to the penal colony of Port Arthur, Tasmania, and was originally serialized in The Australian Journal between 1870 and 1872. The novel is renowned for its realistic portrayal of the brutality and inhumanity of Australia's penal colonies, and is considered one of the first works of Tasmanian Gothic literature. The story follows a young British aristocrat, Rufus Dawes, who is implicated in the murder and robbery of his birth father, Lord Bellasis. Sent to Van Diemens Land, Dawes changes his name and settles into life in some of the world's most notorious penal colonies. On board the Malabar, a ship transporting the new commander of the settlement at Macquarie Harbour, a group of mutineers hatch a plan to take control of the ship. Despite Dawes warning the captain, the conspirators place responsibility for the attempted mutiny on his innocent shoulders, and Dawes is sentenced to life imprisonment. At Macquarie Harbour and later Port Arthur, Dawes is subjected to brutalization, isolation, and torture, leaving him with no choice but to plan his unlikely escape. This edition of Marcus Clarke's For the Term of His Natural Life is a classic of Australian literature reimagined for modern readers. The novel features a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, making it a valuable addition to any collection of Australian literature.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781513134505