{"title":"Babette Smith","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBabette Smith\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a compelling exploration of Australia’s colonial past through meticulous research and evocative prose. Her works, such as \u003cem\u003eA Cargo of Women\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAustralia's Birthstain\u003c\/em\u003e, delve into the lived experiences of convicts and settlers, shedding light on stories often overlooked in mainstream history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a thoughtful blend of historical insight and human narrative, revealing the complexities of Australia's early society. Smith’s books are essential for those interested in the social and cultural fabric of Australia’s formative years within the \u003cstrong\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/strong\u003e genre.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-cargo-of-women-by-babette-smith-9781741755510","title":"A Cargo of Women","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntrigued to discover a convict ancestor in her family tree, Babette Smith decided to investigate her life and the lives of the 99 women who were transported with her on the ship \u003cem\u003ePrincess Royal\u003c\/em\u003e in 1829.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePiece by piece, she reveals the story of her ancestor, the indomitable Susannah Watson, who, trapped in the crowded filthy slums of Nottingham, stole because she could not bear to see her children starving. Separated forever from her husband and four children, she was transported to Australia for 14 years. She endured the convict system at its worst, yet emerged triumphant to die in her bed aged 83 singing 'Rock of Ages'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBabette Smith reconstructs the lives of the women from the \u003cem\u003ePrincess Royal\u003c\/em\u003e from fragments of information in shipping lists, official records, newspapers, and court transcripts. Her research overturns stereotypes of women convicts as drunken whores and criminals. Caught in an England convulsed by change, they become the unwitting and unwilling pioneers of a new land.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFirst published two decades ago, \u003cem\u003eA Cargo of Women\u003c\/em\u003e became a bestseller and remains one of the most valuable accounts of convict life in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848230883564,"sku":"9781741755510","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3456783482808.jpg?v=1758968685"},{"product_id":"australias-birthstain-by-babette-smith-9781741756753","title":"Australia's Birthstain","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy is it that Australians are still misled by myths about their convict heritage? Why are so many family historians surprised to find a convict ancestor in their family trees? Why did an entire society collude to cover up its past?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBabette Smith traces the stories of hundreds of convicts over the 80 years of convict transportation to Australia. Putting a human face on the convicts' experience, she paints a rich picture of their crimes in Britain and their lives in the colonies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAustralia's Birthstain\u003c\/em\u003e rewrites the story of Australia's convict foundations, revealing the involvement of British politicians and clergy in creating a birthstain that reached far beyond convict crimes. Its startling conclusion offers fresh perspective on our past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48147227672812,"sku":"9781741756753","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781741756753-australia-s-birthstain.jpg?v=1786446187"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/babette-smith.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}