Convict by Choice

by J. Marjorie Butler

Hill of Content, 1979, ISBN 0855720530, black and white illustrated plates, black and white line drawings, paperback

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, no inscriptions, age toned pages and spine (see photographs)

“In writing the story of her convict forebear, James Austin, who arrived in the Australian Colony in the year 1803 as part of the Collins convict settlement at Sorrento, J. Marjorie Butler challenges the records of Australian history with her claim that here, indeed, was an example of a convict by choice – that long suspected, but never proven, breed of early settler that arrived via ‘assisted immigration’ long before official schemes were mooted.
With  disarming candour, Miss Butler, who is well known as a writer of Australian family biography, explores the  character and motivations of James Austin and many others of the Austin and Butler families who, as the result of James’ bold immigration, followed him to make fortunes and establish a highly respected family on the Australian scene.
Included in this book are the life stories of six different people who immigrated during the past two hundred years.  In this parade of people down the years Miss Butler shows the many changes that have taken place in just a few life-times and she rightly attributes much of the progress of our nation to the spirit of our pioneers.”