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Based on an elaborate reconstruction of day-to-day life at Macquarie Harbour, one of Australia's most notorious sites of convict punishment, this is the true story of how, in 1827, nine convicts opted for 'state-assisted' escape (the death sentence) rather than endure the hardships and privations of the penal settlement on Sarah Island.In October 1827, nine convicts who had endured years on unimaginable cruelty at the hands of the system option for 'state-assisted' escape. Five terrified witnesses-their hands and feet bound-were forced to watch as the chained convicts seized Constable George Rex and drowned him in the tannin-stained waters of the harbour. When the sentence of death was pronounced upon them, the condemned prisoners uttered just one word in reply: Amen.For twelve long years between 1822 and 1834, Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour was the most feared place in Australia. Clinging to the shores of the wild west coast of Tasmania and hemmed in on all sides by rugged uncharted wilderness, the environment itself formed the prison walls that confined the unfortunate convict re-offenders who were sent there. But the conditions were so brutal that many went mad, or chose death or a very uncertain escape into the bush rather than spend their time in this notorious place.Based on detailed accounts from the time, Closing Hell's Gates contains dozens of personal stories of the harsh and unforgiving life that people were forced to lead, both as convict and overseer, and in so doing reveals some startling insights about human nature when it is pushed to extremes.
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Previews available in: English
Subjects
History, Nonfiction, Penal colonies, Prisons, Prisons, australiaPlaces
TasmaniaShowing 5 featured editions. View all 5 editions?
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Closing hell's gates: the death of a convict station
2008, Allen & Unwin
in English
1741751497 9781741751499
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3
Closing hell's gates: the death of a convict station
2008, Allen & Unwin
in English
1741751497 9781741751499
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Closing Hell's Gates: the Life and Death of a Convict Station
2008, Allen & Unwin
in English
1282132504 9781282132504
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5
Closing hell's gates: the death of a convict station
2008, Allen & Unwin
in English
1741751497 9781741751499
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Book Details
Edition Notes
Includes bibliographical references and index.
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- Created December 12, 2008
- 5 revisions
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August 19, 2010 | Edited by IdentifierBot | added LibraryThing ID |
April 24, 2010 | Edited by Open Library Bot | Fixed duplicate goodreads IDs. |
April 16, 2010 | Edited by bgimpertBot | Added goodreads ID. |
December 15, 2009 | Edited by WorkBot | link works |
December 12, 2008 | Created by ImportBot | Imported from Library of Congress MARC record |