Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
34 used & new from £0.83

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Fatal Shore: History of the Transportation of Convicts to Australia, 1787-1868 (Harvill Panther)
 
See larger image
 

The Fatal Shore: History of the Transportation of Convicts to Australia, 1787-1868 (Harvill Panther) (Paperback)

by Robert Hughes (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £6.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £3.00 (30%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want guaranteed delivery by Friday, July 17? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
11 new from £1.99 23 used from £0.83
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 31 used & new from £2.42
Paperback (New edition) £9.99 £6.99 25 used & new from £4.99
Unknown Binding 2 used & new from £6.00

Frequently Bought Together

The Fatal Shore: History of the Transportation of Convicts to Australia, 1787-1868 (Harvill Panther) + The Commonwealth of Thieves: The Story of the Founding of Australia + Australia: A Biography of a Nation
Price For All Three: £20.97

Show availability and shipping details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Commonwealth of Thieves: The Story of the Founding of Australia

The Commonwealth of Thieves: The Story of the Founding of Australia

by Thomas Keneally
4.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £6.99
Australia: A Biography of a Nation

Australia: A Biography of a Nation

by Philip Knightley
4.0 out of 5 stars (8)  £6.99
The Playmaker

The Playmaker

by Thomas Keneally
4.5 out of 5 stars (6)  £5.99
The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an 18th-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts

The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an 18th-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts

by Sian Rees
4.4 out of 5 stars (20)  £5.99
To Brave Every Danger: Epic Life of Mary Bryant of Fowey

To Brave Every Danger: Epic Life of Mary Bryant of Fowey

by Judith Cook
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 699 pages
  • Publisher: The Harvill Press; New edition edition (5 Sep 1996)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1860461506
  • ISBN-13: 978-1860461507
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 4.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 244,899 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #13 in  Books > History > Countries & Regions > Australasia & Pacific > 1750-1900
    #88 in  Books > History > Countries & Regions > Australasia & Pacific > Australasia > Australia

Product Description

Washington Post
‘Popular history in the best sense…its attention to human detail and its commanding prose call to mind the best work of Barbara Tuchman’ --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Sydney Sunday Herald
‘With its mood and stature…The Fatal Shore is well on its way to becoming the standard opus on the convict years’ --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Fatal Shore: History of the Transportation of Convicts to Australia, 1787-1868 (Harvill Panther)
86% buy the item featured on this page:
The Fatal Shore: History of the Transportation of Convicts to Australia, 1787-1868 (Harvill Panther) 4.7 out of 5 stars (15)
£6.99
Australia: A Biography of a Nation
6% buy
Australia: A Biography of a Nation 4.0 out of 5 stars (8)
£6.99
The Dig Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Burke and Wills Expedition
3% buy
The Dig Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Burke and Wills Expedition 4.9 out of 5 stars (9)
£12.99
The Commonwealth of Thieves: The Story of the Founding of Australia
3% buy
The Commonwealth of Thieves: The Story of the Founding of Australia 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£6.99

 

Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic insight into the forgotten British gulags, 8 Aug 2000
By A Customer
I studied English history for many years at school, and not once was the shameful secret of transportation mentioned in the syllabus. The scale of cruelty and barbarism described by Hughes in some parts of the Colony is staggering, but what strikes most about the book is its evenhandness. The convicts' backgrounds and unconventional social mores are fully investigated, as is their treatment at the hands of unknowing and uncaring British petty colonialists. What are more uncertain are Hughes' assertions about the effect of the convict past on the Australian character of today - is the convict past really an issue in Australian social politics (other than a friendly taunt to visiting pommies)? Still, an enthralling, deeply moving and informative read, a must for students of English or Australian history, or visitors to Australia.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, 16 Jan 2000
By A Customer
I read this during a year working in Sydney and couldn't put it down (which says a great deal for a work of non-fiction!). The descriptions of the hardships faced by convicts were so vivid that I went to see many of the places for myself. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the read., 21 Jul 2003
By k n coulby (gerrards cross, buckinghamshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Fatal Shore (Paperback)
This book is an excellent read, both accessible and fluid in its writing as well as detailed and well researched.
I'm sure that this book will be an invaluable resource for those studying or interested in the transportation process and Australian history in general.
While the main focus is on the penal colonies, the book opens with fascinating insights into both the Aboriginal group around Sydney harbour at the time and also the Georgian "Working" and "criminal" class. Both of which give depth and range to the subject at hand.
Being a history teacher myself I can recommend this book for teachers who are looking for something new and interesting to spice up the industrial revolution. And for the general reader I would recommend this book as a fascinating and balanced insight into a very different world. One that is both part of and a world away from the Georgian world we so often hear about.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fatal Shore
The book came in really good condition. It is a very interesting book for anyone who is researching their convict ancestors. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Valerie Rushton

5.0 out of 5 stars Sets The Standard
"The Fatal Shore" by Robert Hughes is the one book which is always mentioned when it comes to books about the history of Australia, and for good reason. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Dave_42

5.0 out of 5 stars A Humane Account
At first glance, the title of this brief review may appear something of an oxymoron. However, this is exactly what Robert Hughes does by applying his almost tangible decency to a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mark Rowantree

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
In 'The Fatal Shore' Robert Hughes has weaved together a magnificent web of history and the stories of brave individuals in the newly founded colony of Botany Bay. Read more
Published 23 months ago by a nice guy who likes reading

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fatal Shore
A great insight into the "indeliable stain". An insight into the darker side of colonial history which has gone largely unnoticed in academic life today. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2007 by Mr. R. A. Matthews

5.0 out of 5 stars A History of British Brutality
Robert Hughes "The Fatal Shore" is a compelling, readable, and meticuously documented account of the settlement of Australia. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2006 by Mr. L. J. Atterbury

4.0 out of 5 stars Odd
My only gripe was: An Australian author, writing on England (let's face it, it wasn't 'Britain' doing any of this and most people outside Great Britain think Wales and Scotland... Read more
Published on 27 May 2006 by Species 8472

3.0 out of 5 stars Emancipists and Currency
The Fatal Shore is a thorough investigation into the convict system between Great Britain and Australia with a strong slant from the perspective of the convicts themselves through... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2003 by Mr. Dr. Washbrook

4.0 out of 5 stars A history of The Convict Stain
From Captain cook's discovery of Botany Bay and The First Fleet's cargo of convicts this is comprehensive history of the transpotation system and the earliest days in the... Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2003 by hughjjr

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read.
I agree with general consensus of opinion that this is an absolutely fascinating book, superbly researched and gripping in its narrative. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2001

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

Discover Health & Beauty

 

More From Robert Hughes

The Shock of...

The Shock of the New: Art and the...

`You will refer back to these precious books again and again' Read more
£24.95 £18.99

 

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

Shop Converse

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates