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Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke
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For the Term of His Natural Life Paperback – August 5, 2020

by Marcus Clarke (Author)
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 267 ratings
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In the breathless stillness of a tropical afternoon, when the air was hot and heavy, and the sky brazen and cloudless, the shadow of the Malabar lay solitary on the surface of the glittering sea.The sun-who rose on the left hand every morning a blazing ball, to move slowly through the unbearable blue, until he sank fiery red in mingling glories of sky and ocean on the right hand-had just got low enough to peep beneath the awning that covered the poop-deck, and awaken a young man, in an undress military uniform, who was dozing on a coil of rope."Hang it!" said he, rising and stretching himself, with the weary sigh of a man who has nothing to do, "I must have been asleep"; and then, holding by a stay, he turned about and looked down into the waist of the ship.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    458 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pharos Books
  4. Publication date
    August 5, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.93 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9390001366
  7. ISBN-13
    978-9390001361
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pharos Books (August 5, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 458 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9390001366
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9390001361
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.93 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 267 ratings

About the author

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Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke

Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
267 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

gina
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is not a pleasant story, but it most certainly is compelling. I learned a lot about penal colonies too. The plot and the characters are great. The author explores human nature in a most realistic way. There is something that renders this book really unique. I suppose I really liked the values, such as honour and the force of human spirit, that are prominent in it. It is a thought provoking book, but that doen not get in the way of the plot and of the tragic crescendo that few authors manage to achieve.
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LTM
4.0 out of 5 stars Action-Packed Adventure, Hair Raising Environment
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2012
Verified Purchase
This is both a very fascinating and a very frustrating book. Its principal protagonist is Rufus Dawes, a young Englishman from a wealthy family, who allows his pride to put him into the terrifying experience of becoming a prisoner condemned to transportation. Along the way he encounters other characters - each with his or her own reasons for being (sometimes literally) in the same boat.

What makes the book fascinating is the abundance of detail about a youthful Australia and the abuses of its terrible prison system. What makes the book frustrating is that Marcus Clarke has written in Rufus Dawes a lead character who is driven almost entirely by his pride, which has the effect of trapping him in situations from which common sense would allow him to escape or at least alleviate. This is probably intended to stand in for his fatal flaw, but it gets a little old, which is one of the two reasons I give it four stars instead of five. The second reason for the lowered rating is because Clarke is BIG on coincidences - huge overwhelmingly unlikely, mind-numbing coincidences. He doesn't use the coincidence device a lot, but when he does, the use is awe-inspiring.

The book was written in the 1870s by an expatriate Englishman who had become an Australian journalist whose job allowed him to research the infamous prison system in great depth. If this makes it sound like it would be dry, don't be deceived. It is a rip-roaring adventure that I highly recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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Brontina
3.0 out of 5 stars Dark and depressing, but historically informative.
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2017
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This is one of the most depressing books I have ever read. I don't want to give away the plot, but I will say that it's the story of a very unlucky man who is wrongly accused of a crime he has not committed and is deported to what is today Tasmania. Clarke wrote this book years after the deportation system had been abolished and perhaps what he is trying to say is: "That happened when the English were in charge, but now we are Australia and we don't do that." There is no hope in this book, even the clergy is unable to offer any comfort. Injustice, cruelty and abuse of power are the themes and death is the only way out. From a historical point of view, the story is very informational but it is at times really hard to believe that all that is described is true. In some chapters, the book looks like an adventure book, but in the end we are left with the impression that there is no redemption.
5 people found this helpful
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susan
5.0 out of 5 stars Port Arthur
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2014
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I absolutely loved the book. But the softback I bought was almost unreadable. It was in a format which one couldn't read....the size was that of a school textbook and the font went completely across the page. I ended up buying a copy in Melbourne which was wonderful which was the "typical book" format. I loved the story. It was recommended to me by friends in Sydney, and after visiting Tasmania and Port Arthur, I think it was the most memorable book i read. I loved it.
One person found this helpful
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A Mom with Kids and Fur Kids
1.0 out of 5 stars Tis True, It's Broken
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2013
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Seeing the problems that the other reviewers were having I thought I'd give a shot at reading this book (which is some 487 pages long, and not 5) using Amazon's Cloud reader. While I did make it past page 1, the book was VERY slow to load and after a few moves forwards I shut that tab for fear that it would freeze my system.

Those who are interested in reading FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE can find it elsewhere on the internet, for Free. Archive org has it in different formats, including Kindle.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic of unparalleled literary grandeur
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2017
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For English speakers who have graduated from high school after only the past 30 years, this book cannot be adequately read without a dictionary. The grammar, choice of words the mastery of English expression, not to mention the rivetting story line are incredible. For one who would want to understand the brutality of the penal settlements of Tasmania and Norfolk island, this book is a must read.
2 people found this helpful
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Warwick
4.0 out of 5 stars great read
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2013
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After visiting port Arthur in Tasmania and seeing a reference to this book thought I would give it a go. Love the old style of writing with very descriptive language. Great insight into the 1800's in Australia / Britain. Long book but intriguing characters with great plot.
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T. Hames
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic literature
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2010
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In the vein of Hugo, Dumas and Stevenson, this is a classic work of historical fiction. The exotic setting, the character development and the story line are all superb. This is a deep story of human suffering and love, conquest and domination. A true Tasmanian/Australian gem!
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Top reviews from other countries

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xx
3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed
Reviewed in Canada on November 7, 2019
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Enjoyed the history lesson. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Australian history or life in the outback
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BARBARA M
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read
Reviewed in Australia on March 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Love this story about historical times in Tasmania Australia. I bought a paperback while on a visit to Tassie.
I found the hardcopy print too small to read comfortably, so much easier on kindle and being able to adjust the font size. Also like being able to select a word to look up it's meaning, can't do that on paper!
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DF Bergstraße
1.0 out of 5 stars Kindle stürzt ab
Reviewed in Germany on April 29, 2014
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Die ganzen Englisch-sprachigen Rezensionen für genau DIESE (kostenlose) Version stimmen: Kindle stürzt mehr oder weniger komplett ab. Dummerweise kann man dann auch nicht mehr das Benutzerhandbuch lesen, worin steht, dass man 20 Sekunden auf den Ein-Aus-Schalter zu drücken hat, um einen Totalreset zu machen ...
One person found this helpful
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Mel Powell
5.0 out of 5 stars Hugely satisfying read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2013
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I read this years ago and was very pleased to find a kindle version as my old paperback disintegrated! Of the novel, I will say the story has lost none of it's power to draw me in and keep me reading. There are passages of descriptive prose that are just breathtaking. Yes, some of the plot devices are a little clunky but this is a nineteenth century novel; what do you expect? The human stories and depiction of the harsh realities of convict life make compulsive reading. It's a long novel but the tension is conveyed so well that at times I felt like I was racing through it. Also pleased to report that the kindle version doesn't seem to have any glaring typos or spelling mistakes and is well laid out. Would recommend to anyone who wants an e-version and anyone who hasn't read it yet. Should be in everyone's library whatever the format.
Update Oct 2014 - the kindle version I downloaded does not appear to be available anymore and the currently available free kindle versions have really bad reviews. My copy is good. If you are thinking of purchasing but are concerned about the formatting, do persevere and find a good e- version, even if it means paying a few quid. There is more than one version available and I personally, think it's such a great read, it worth paying for and should be much more widely read. Sort it out Amazon.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Shocking but very readable.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2012
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I read this while travelling in Tasmania and really got into the mood of the place. It really made the story come alive being able to visit Port Arthur. Excellent read but very sad.
One person found this helpful
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