The Gardens of Hell : John Mitchel in Van Diemen's Land 1850-1853
1 journaler for this copy...
Purchased while on a holiday in Tassie.
Don't remember reading this !
From back cover:
"In his true, poetical fashion, Mitchel 'discovers' the Australian 'scene' in Tasmania as did some of the finest of Australia's early painters, like John Glover and John Skinner Prout.
Peter O'Shaughnessy has provided an introduction and notes to this account taken from John Mitchel's "Jail Journal". It deals with Mitchel's confinement, for three years, as a political prisoner in Van Dieman's Land. Mitchel casts a cold eye on convict life (at the time he was in Van Dieman's Land more than 50% of the colony was comprised of convict or convict emancipist stock).
Yet for Mitchel, with his great love of nature, the Australian bush was a wonderous revelation. Soon, at Bothwell, his defences are down and he celebrates the bush with an eye so appreciative and all-surrendering that many modern Australian city dwellers, to whom it is less familiar than it was to him, might feel put to shame."
Don't remember reading this !
From back cover:
"In his true, poetical fashion, Mitchel 'discovers' the Australian 'scene' in Tasmania as did some of the finest of Australia's early painters, like John Glover and John Skinner Prout.
Peter O'Shaughnessy has provided an introduction and notes to this account taken from John Mitchel's "Jail Journal". It deals with Mitchel's confinement, for three years, as a political prisoner in Van Dieman's Land. Mitchel casts a cold eye on convict life (at the time he was in Van Dieman's Land more than 50% of the colony was comprised of convict or convict emancipist stock).
Yet for Mitchel, with his great love of nature, the Australian bush was a wonderous revelation. Soon, at Bothwell, his defences are down and he celebrates the bush with an eye so appreciative and all-surrendering that many modern Australian city dwellers, to whom it is less familiar than it was to him, might feel put to shame."
Found reading parts of this rather difficult. Not the writing style, Mitchel's views.
Read before visiting Ireland, so perhaps that's why I don't remember reading it. Didn't realise there were so many references to Ireland, and Mitchel's political views, which were no doubt totally lost on me originally.
This time I found myself annoyed at the references, and Mitchel's continued desire to 'escape and continue the fight'.
One of the comments: "Every sight and sound that strikes the eye or ear on this mail road, reminds me that I am in a small misshapen, transported, bastard England; and the legitimate England itself is not so dear to me that I can love the convict copy."
'Copy' of England ? Come on ! Perhaps he really meant the legal system, and the fact that English was spoken, and in accents he recognised.
Yet I certainly enjoyed his descriptions of the countryside, lakes and towns. The accompanying photographs reinforce the lack of changes, and I look forward to my text trip to Tassie.
Read before visiting Ireland, so perhaps that's why I don't remember reading it. Didn't realise there were so many references to Ireland, and Mitchel's political views, which were no doubt totally lost on me originally.
This time I found myself annoyed at the references, and Mitchel's continued desire to 'escape and continue the fight'.
One of the comments: "Every sight and sound that strikes the eye or ear on this mail road, reminds me that I am in a small misshapen, transported, bastard England; and the legitimate England itself is not so dear to me that I can love the convict copy."
'Copy' of England ? Come on ! Perhaps he really meant the legal system, and the fact that English was spoken, and in accents he recognised.
Yet I certainly enjoyed his descriptions of the countryside, lakes and towns. The accompanying photographs reinforce the lack of changes, and I look forward to my text trip to Tassie.
Have returned home from a week in Tassie. Hired a campervan, and played 'tourist guide' to a visiting Irishman. He didn't enjoy it that much, which is a pity.Anyway, we did manage to stop in Ross, where Mitchell's friend Thomas Meagher lived, and saw a fair bit of the surrounding countryside.
Book has been neatly covered to protect it on it's journey, with a 'Take me home, I'm a BookCrossing book' sticker across the front.
Am posting him this book today as part two (Ireland) of my 'Lifetime Realease Challenge' challenge, in the hope he will not only enjoy the book and register as a member, will also have a few pleasant memories of Tas.
