Jane Smith, a ‘little girl’ of thirteen, was transported to Van Diemen’s Land for arson. Mary Ann Oseman was nine when she served her first jail sentence for theft, and was transported aged twelve. Mary Ann Little had been a prostitute for four years before being transported at fifteen. Their stories, and those of 26 other girls, are told in this fascinating book.

Coming from fractured families, sometimes homeless vagrants: what happened when these girls, still children, arrived in Van Diemen’s Land and were expected to work obediently as domestic servants? Many rebelled: Mary Ann Little committed 38 offences and spent 646 days – almost two years – in solitary confinement. Others knuckled down, committing few or no offences. Some met with kindness – from doctors, perhaps from mistresses or older fellow-convicts. All but one found male partners, and some became devoted wives and mothers. Others were dogged by tragedy, with abusive husbands, alcoholism and continued offences.

These lives are gripping – amusing, moving, unexpected – told by authors from around Australia and as far away as Scotland.  Four are descended from these girls. These vivid stories from Convict Women’s Press continue our series of books that bring convict women to life.

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