Exiles by Christina Baker Kline.
Imports to Australia. I got completely wrapped up in this story about women sent to an Australian penal colony on Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania)—something I knew almost nothing about. The treatments in the British prison system in the mid 1800s, the four-month long journey by ship, and life in the Cascades Female Factory will be images that will remain with me. And it wasn't just the women who I will remember, it's also the actions towards the aborigines. An unforgettably sensational read! While reading this I had to settle in with a glass of “19 Crimes,” a tasty wine which lists one of the 19 crimes that would get a prisoner sent to Australia printed on their wine corks. In case you’re wondering what the 19 crimes are, here’s a list directly from their website: 1. Grand Larceny, theft above the value of one shilling 2. Petty Larceny, theft under one shilling. 3. Buying or receiving stolen goods, jewels, and plate... 4. Ste...