Alexander Harris (1) (1805–1874)

Settlers and Convicts is the biography of a free settler who came to the colony of New South Wales (Australia) in c1840. It follows his sixteen years in the colony from arrival to farming to woodcutting to house building and shop keeping with a couple of near death experiences thrown into the mix.

I'd highly recommend reading a copy that comes with the CMH Clark foreword, such as the 1953 Melbourne University Press edition, as the foreword gives a detailed account of the historical show more controversy surrounding the book. Namely whilst the events are historically accurate the book was originally written anonymously and the person who claimed to be the writer in 1852, namely Alexander Harris, is unable to be confirmed as having been in the colony during the time period. (There's a bit more, but if interested you can just read the book & foreword!)

All in all, whether true biography/travelogue or compiled factual events narrated as a travelogue it is still an interesting read as the writer travels throughout colonial New South Wales. As someone who has lived in/lives in regions where the events of the book take place it is hard to imagine things back as they were all those years ago. The descriptions of the journey are detailed enough that one is able to follow it on a map, or as a local resident mentally trace it along the now modern roads.

Great book, interesting history, interesting controversy about the book itself. show less