This landmark historical novel by celebrated Tasmanian author Christopher Koch provides a powerful, deeply researched account of the 1840s penal colony of Van Diemen's Land. Following the experiences of an Irish political prisoner transported to the antipodes, the text brilliantly captures the landscape, colonial friction, and the harsh realities of the early Tasmanian convict system. It stands as a vital masterpiece of Australian literature and an essential addition for collectors of local fiction and regional historical narratives.