What do you think?
Rate this book
The Australians #1
The Exiles
They came from England - thieves, felons, murderers, justly and unjustly accused - human cargo destined to hack a life from the harsh Australian wilderness. Packed into the teemed holds of His Majesty's ships. they sailed treacherous seas to the icy desolation of Antarctica, to the South Cape of Tasmania, to Captain Cook's anchorage in Botany Bay.
It was a cruel, violent fate for fifteen-year-old Jenny Taggart. Falsely accused of theft, she was torn from her loved ones, a beautiful child among hardened convicts, an innocent in the craft of survival.
Betrayed by her beauty, sustained by courage, she would endure to become Queen of the Convicts, target of passion and vengeance in a raw, merciless land...
It was a cruel, violent fate for fifteen-year-old Jenny Taggart. Falsely accused of theft, she was torn from her loved ones, a beautiful child among hardened convicts, an innocent in the craft of survival.
Betrayed by her beauty, sustained by courage, she would endure to become Queen of the Convicts, target of passion and vengeance in a raw, merciless land...
688 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
35 people are currently reading
1371 people want to read
About the author
William Stuart Long
39 books37 followersViolet Vivian Finlay was born on 2 January 1914 in Berkshire, England, UK, the daughter of Alice Kathleen (née Norton) and Sir Campbell Kirkman Finlay. Her father was the owner and director of Burmah Oil Company Ltd., whose Scottish family also owned James Finlay and Company Ltd. The majority of her childhood and youth was spent in Rangoon, Burma (now also known as Myanmar), where her father worked. During her life, she frequently journeyed between India, Singapore, Java and Sumatra.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 30, 2022
Erzählt wird die Geschichte der Jenny Taggert im späten 18. Jahrhundert in England. Sie ist noch ein Kind, als sie mit ihrer Mutter nach London kommt. Ein paar Jahre leben sie dort, dann wird Jenny unschuldig des Diebstahls beschuldigt und nach Australien verbannt.
Eigentlich eine sehr interessante Geschichte, doch ich bin mit dem Schreibstil nicht richtig warm geworden. Obwohl mich die Handlung eigentlich total faszinierte, konnte ich zur Hauptprotagonistin keine Verbindung finden.
Es passiert unglaublich viel, aber irgendwie ist man als Leser gar nicht richtig dabei. Es hat sich gelesen wie eine Auflistung von Ereignissen; die Emotionen habe ich vermisst.
Ich möchte mit den Charakteren fühlen können, in die Handlung eintauchen. Das ist mir hier leider nicht gelungen.
Die Geschichte an sich war aber durchaus interessant, und man erfährt auch einiges über die Geschichte Australiens.
Die Reihe umfasst 12 Bände. Ich bin mir noch unschlüssig, ob ich weiterlesen möchte. Eigentlich aber schon, doch ich hoffe, dass mich Band 2 dann ein wenig mehr wird packen können.
Eigentlich eine sehr interessante Geschichte, doch ich bin mit dem Schreibstil nicht richtig warm geworden. Obwohl mich die Handlung eigentlich total faszinierte, konnte ich zur Hauptprotagonistin keine Verbindung finden.
Es passiert unglaublich viel, aber irgendwie ist man als Leser gar nicht richtig dabei. Es hat sich gelesen wie eine Auflistung von Ereignissen; die Emotionen habe ich vermisst.
Ich möchte mit den Charakteren fühlen können, in die Handlung eintauchen. Das ist mir hier leider nicht gelungen.
Die Geschichte an sich war aber durchaus interessant, und man erfährt auch einiges über die Geschichte Australiens.
Die Reihe umfasst 12 Bände. Ich bin mir noch unschlüssig, ob ich weiterlesen möchte. Eigentlich aber schon, doch ich hoffe, dass mich Band 2 dann ein wenig mehr wird packen können.
June 26, 2012
The Exiles is the first in a twelve book series based on the founding of Australia (then New South Wales). Jenny Taggert and her mother are forced out of their farm on the death of her father and head for London in hopes of obtaining employment. I'll not spoil, but life in the big city has its little ups and downs and when she's fifteen, Jenny finds herself falsely accused of a crime, and eventually shipped off to New South Wales with the first group of ships carrying convict labor to the new colony.
I think we all know the bare bones about the convict transports, but I hadn't realized the scope of the difficulties involved. Even those that did survive the voyage, there's still the difficulty of taming the land, especially when the majority of the convicts were thieves and murderers who only knew how to survive in the city. Despite some of the details getting a little carried away (to be expected in longer series), this was a good solid read for me, and made especially so by Jenny's character and positive outlook on life no matter what setbacks life threw her. No whining victim here.
I think we all know the bare bones about the convict transports, but I hadn't realized the scope of the difficulties involved. Even those that did survive the voyage, there's still the difficulty of taming the land, especially when the majority of the convicts were thieves and murderers who only knew how to survive in the city. Despite some of the details getting a little carried away (to be expected in longer series), this was a good solid read for me, and made especially so by Jenny's character and positive outlook on life no matter what setbacks life threw her. No whining victim here.
June 3, 2012
This series - the Australians - is one of the best 'good reads' I know and the perfect way to learn the history of Australia
June 20, 2011
Recommended to me by the owner of a used bookstore I frequent when I asked for fictional books set in Australia, I was immediately impressed. It took me a while to finish because of its length and I read a few books at the same time. This was an extremely good, albeit depressing, look at the birth of Australia. Although the book is fiction, it is factually and historically accurate, and I feel I now understand a bit more about this period in Australia's history. There is even mention of Will and Mary Bryant and their successful voyage to Timor to escape their "prison." The book is one of twelve written by William Stuart Long who was actually Vivian Stuart. I won't be jumping right into the second book but I will definitely be reading more of the series.
Read
May 8, 2022I can’t force myself to read the last 80 pages of this book… it was so boring. I couldn’t keep up with who was who and also didn’t care what happened to any of the characters. So I’m calling it. Interesting premise but super huge disappointment.
December 3, 2022
An einigen Stellen zu ausschweifend und detailliert geschrieben, besonders die politischen Belange hätten eher gekürzt werden können. Der Hauptcharakter etwas zu großherzig. Gefallen hat mir über alle Figuren immer wieder zu lesen und ich bin gespannt, wie die Geschichte weitergeht.
October 15, 2012
"The Exiles" is a book to make you grateful for the times we live in and for the transformation of governments and nations--particularly England and Australia--to the powerful but peaceful states they are today. This book is the first in the series called "The Australians" by William Stuart Long, who, in fact, is historian Vivian Stuart. She knows her history but also her novel-writing. She establishes Jenny Taggart as her protagonist, a young woman caught mistakenly in thievery and transported to Australia as part of the first wave of exiles sent not to colonize but to dispose of society's criminals (including those who committed the crime of poverty) and useless to a wasteland to be forgotten. We see the struggles of the exiles just in surviving the long sea voyage and then adapting to a new land that is truly a rocky desert filled with fearsome creatures and with few apparent redeeming features. We also see the struggle of those in charge, particularly the government representatives, against the military officials who believe they have the right to land, wealth, and tyranny over the exiles and the government and also against the home government in England that wants nothing to do with the outcasts. Will they survive? Will they thrive? History has already played out the answers, but Stuart's subsequent novels are bound to capture their readers' attentions as we follow Jenny--a fictional "everywoman"--in her triumphs and tragedies.
April 25, 2011
loved this book. So descriptive, was like a movie playing in my head.
October 28, 2013
This is the first in a long series concerning the settlement of Australia. It follows the first set of convicts with the main protagonist Jenny Taggert, a teenage girl who has been swept off to Australia through no fault of her own. We also get the thoughts and actions of the first governor and the soldiers who were sent to keep order - many ending up behaving worse than the convicts.
The story is quick-paced and in places gruesome with plenty of floggings and hangings! Throughout all Jenny continues on, at times she despairs and goes against her original morals in a desperate attempt to gain something caring - but those she chooses to trust let her down.
The depiction of the aborigines is interesting and conflicting - showing they had as many good and bad people as did the settlers. The effort of Governor Philips to create a law-abiding self-supporting colony in the face of opposition from the very people he is trying to keep alive was heart breaking - he works himself into ill health until he is finally relieved.
This book shows the full breadth of what it took to create Sydney and the toll it took on all involved. This shadows much of the same ground covered in Kate Grenville's book The Secret River.
The story is quick-paced and in places gruesome with plenty of floggings and hangings! Throughout all Jenny continues on, at times she despairs and goes against her original morals in a desperate attempt to gain something caring - but those she chooses to trust let her down.
The depiction of the aborigines is interesting and conflicting - showing they had as many good and bad people as did the settlers. The effort of Governor Philips to create a law-abiding self-supporting colony in the face of opposition from the very people he is trying to keep alive was heart breaking - he works himself into ill health until he is finally relieved.
This book shows the full breadth of what it took to create Sydney and the toll it took on all involved. This shadows much of the same ground covered in Kate Grenville's book The Secret River.
July 10, 2011
This book was a total surprise. The Exiles was the first book I have read for along time which actually made me cry. I love Jenny Taggart and I immediately had to start reading the Settlers (sequel to The Exiles) to find out what happens next in her desperate and unfortunate life.
All the charcters in this historical fiction are so tangible and the depiction of the early life of our convict nation under Governor Phillip is so engaging and at times rivetting, and disturbing. I felt angry and excited, sad and happy. The internal conflict in both Jenny and Arthur Phillip especially, was captivating.
I have learned a little more about how this great nation began through the senses of these wonderful characters, William Stuart Long has brought to life. Read this book. Go for a ride back to the late eighteenth century and lose yourself in another world.
All the charcters in this historical fiction are so tangible and the depiction of the early life of our convict nation under Governor Phillip is so engaging and at times rivetting, and disturbing. I felt angry and excited, sad and happy. The internal conflict in both Jenny and Arthur Phillip especially, was captivating.
I have learned a little more about how this great nation began through the senses of these wonderful characters, William Stuart Long has brought to life. Read this book. Go for a ride back to the late eighteenth century and lose yourself in another world.
January 11, 2009
The Australians series is actually by Vivian Stuart under her pen name, William Stuart Long. There are 11 or 12 of them in the series. I bought them as they came out over several years in the late 80's and early 90's. Pulp paperback, historical fiction--a-la Francis Parkman. Broad appeal as the history is authentic but there is also tragedy and romance, as there surely was in Australian History. The series apparently stops with nationhood, about 1901. I'd have liked to have seen her continue the series up to the present.
July 17, 2024
I'm thoroughly enjoying this historical fiction series about Australia. I'm totally hooked on this series about the founding of Australia by the "dregs of society" in England, mostly around London at the time. Quite a few of these prisoners were on these ships to Australia for nothing more than stealing a scrap of bread because they were starving or women were soliciting themselves for a few pennies to buy food for themself or their children. If you can find the books which are out of print, I believe, you'll thoroughly enjoy the tale.
February 6, 2017
Despite the heaving bosom and swarthy men on the cover, this book is less about romance and more about the struggles of homesteading a new land. It was an interesting glimpse into the early settlement of Australia -- the hard lives of the convicts banished there, the corruption of the English soldiers, the all but abandonment of the colony by the motherland. I find myself wanting to read the next book in the series to see how it all turns out for our heroine and her companions.
November 28, 2018
Sept 28, 2012: I read the entire series and loved every book. It has become my favorite series of all time. I would like to read it again but I have given the series to an elderly lady who loves to read. Hopefully someday I will again have the opportunity to re-read this.
Nov 28, 2018: I am again reading the Exiles. It is just as good as I remember it.
Nov 28, 2018: I am again reading the Exiles. It is just as good as I remember it.
September 15, 2021
The Exiles is a sweeping saga about the first group of British convicts to be transported to Australia. This is a subject I really know nothing about, but after reading Thornbirds I wanted MooOooore. Apparently, The Exiles is one of THE Australian settler books.
I see why. It's a fabulous blend of historical fiction, politics, bad human behavior, and survival - It's pretty raw.
As for the author William Stuart Long, he wrote Jenny's character excellently. I was honestly surprised that a man could write about a pioneer woman's inner life so expertly - but turns out William Stuart Long is a pen name for British author Violet Vivian Stuart, so I got a little aha! moment.
I see why. It's a fabulous blend of historical fiction, politics, bad human behavior, and survival - It's pretty raw.
As for the author William Stuart Long, he wrote Jenny's character excellently. I was honestly surprised that a man could write about a pioneer woman's inner life so expertly - but turns out William Stuart Long is a pen name for British author Violet Vivian Stuart, so I got a little aha! moment.
December 14, 2018
I'm really not the intended audience for this pulp fiction account of the colonization of Australia.
The book came into my hands due to an odd set of circumstances. I had bought lunch from the salad counter at Mom's organic market, and was settled in the lounge to eat. Casting around for something to read as I lunched, I found this tattered paperback. It had a book crossing sticker inside, registered by "Fire girl" in December 2006, Mesa Arizona.
It looks as if Fire girl brought the book to Mom's in 2006. So I suppose it has been living in the Little Free Library box and entertaining loungers at Mom's organic market for 12 years now.
So. It's not a good book if your tastes run towards the literary. But if you just want a STORY with plenty of rough action and easily classified characters, it will keep you turning the pages. I have to admit I set aside Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" to scarf down this easily digested pulp.
Other reviewers have loved this book, praising it as an easy way to learn Australian history. I'm dubious about the accuracy of many details, the author strikes me as someone who wouldn't let facts get in the way of plot.
But my knowledge of Australian history, before reading this book, was accurately summarized in one sentence: British criminals were transported to Australia as punishment.
I did learn that the settlement was planned more carefully and supported more thoroughly than I had realized. And I see His Majesty's purpose more clearly: to drain England of unwanted humans while using those cheap lives to colonize land that, he was afraid, would go to the French if he didn't get there first.
The book came into my hands due to an odd set of circumstances. I had bought lunch from the salad counter at Mom's organic market, and was settled in the lounge to eat. Casting around for something to read as I lunched, I found this tattered paperback. It had a book crossing sticker inside, registered by "Fire girl" in December 2006, Mesa Arizona.
It looks as if Fire girl brought the book to Mom's in 2006. So I suppose it has been living in the Little Free Library box and entertaining loungers at Mom's organic market for 12 years now.
So. It's not a good book if your tastes run towards the literary. But if you just want a STORY with plenty of rough action and easily classified characters, it will keep you turning the pages. I have to admit I set aside Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" to scarf down this easily digested pulp.
Other reviewers have loved this book, praising it as an easy way to learn Australian history. I'm dubious about the accuracy of many details, the author strikes me as someone who wouldn't let facts get in the way of plot.
But my knowledge of Australian history, before reading this book, was accurately summarized in one sentence: British criminals were transported to Australia as punishment.
I did learn that the settlement was planned more carefully and supported more thoroughly than I had realized. And I see His Majesty's purpose more clearly: to drain England of unwanted humans while using those cheap lives to colonize land that, he was afraid, would go to the French if he didn't get there first.
March 1, 2010
Although this novel is historic fiction...it gives a good insight into the plight of the convicts that were transported to Australia in 1788, their harsh treatment during the long journey...Although some of the convicts were notorious others only stole to survive and were deported to a land so far off that there was no return for them...The author leaves no holds unbarred in her description of the people,m the times and the place. This book is a genuine eye opener.
June 16, 2016
This is historical fiction at its best, a sweeping saga of the settlement of a wild land we now know as Australia. Jenny Taggart is my favorite kind of heroine - resourceful, intelligent, strong, unflinchingly moral in the midst of a den of thieves, compassionate to a fault, and brave. The book may not be as fast-paced as the ones written in 2013, but its portrayal of the harrowing oceanic voyage from England to Australia is unparallelled!
July 7, 2012
I enjoyed this read from the first page to the last and have just received the next two volumes of "The Australians." If these are as entertaining, informative and well-written as Book I, William Stuart Long will have me as a reader to the ending of this saga.
In fact, I am re-reading "The Exiles" to my husband as I start the second book, "The Settlers," for myself.
In fact, I am re-reading "The Exiles" to my husband as I start the second book, "The Settlers," for myself.
Read
November 28, 2010Have always loved this cover. That, ladies and gentlemen is a bodice and the man behind her at some point in this novel is going to tear it off her and ravish her until the morning.
March 25, 2012
I read this entire series as a young adult and wanted to re-read it. I did enjoy the book the second time. It did drag in a few spots, but I liked it again.
August 17, 2012
This is my favourite book series. I've read it about 20 times. If you like Australian Convict history you'll love this.
November 19, 2024
I bought this book in 1981 when it was all about Australia at the time. Aussie everything was the big new fad. I live in Australia and to me it was not such an exciting thing to have patriotism, especially knowing the history of my country being built on convict labour, falsely accused people, and starving people from England and Ireland being sent to the colony seemed atrocious to be proud of!
This edition is full of typos, lord only knows the proofreader must have been drunk that day!
I found it to be almost an elongated history lesson I had at school, with a fictitious heroine thrown in for a good story. In the year 2024 of my writing this, I have had plenty of experience in studying my own family tree (none were convicts but came in the 1850s for gold) and learning more of the history of the townships and settlements, and have learned much of the place I live.
I found it annoying at times the reiterations of the characters and their reasons for being there. It was a little waffling on at times and I did wonder at what direction this would go, but in the end I felt let down as the story just seemed to halt on a very weird ending. Not a cliff-hanger for sure!
I am now reading the next in the series, The Settlers and will review it after I finish it.
This edition is full of typos, lord only knows the proofreader must have been drunk that day!
I found it to be almost an elongated history lesson I had at school, with a fictitious heroine thrown in for a good story. In the year 2024 of my writing this, I have had plenty of experience in studying my own family tree (none were convicts but came in the 1850s for gold) and learning more of the history of the townships and settlements, and have learned much of the place I live.
I found it annoying at times the reiterations of the characters and their reasons for being there. It was a little waffling on at times and I did wonder at what direction this would go, but in the end I felt let down as the story just seemed to halt on a very weird ending. Not a cliff-hanger for sure!
I am now reading the next in the series, The Settlers and will review it after I finish it.
October 6, 2023
Have read this and others in the series and am rereading some of them. I found them excellent for educating me about the early history of Europeans in Australia and definitely recommend them for that. Yes it can get a bit tiring with regards to the main characters interactions and sometimes the writing style gets monotonous, but for all that I think they are excellent in their presentation of historical events.
July 14, 2023
Excellent book!
I have always wanted to know more about the settlement of Australia, and this novel was probably very close to the truth.
How brutal it was. How degrading it was. How little England cared for its people-- sentencing them to exile for stealing a bit of bread.
Next up: "The Fatal Shore."
I have always wanted to know more about the settlement of Australia, and this novel was probably very close to the truth.
How brutal it was. How degrading it was. How little England cared for its people-- sentencing them to exile for stealing a bit of bread.
Next up: "The Fatal Shore."
February 17, 2018
Loved this booked, great story that only partially covers the struggle the convicts went through to establish a colony in an inhospitable terrain. It has humanity, loved, hope, drama, heroine s and heros and gives an example of never-quit-character.
January 6, 2021
Wonderful characters and captivating storylines bring history to life. This book, and I daresay the series, is a hidden gem - highly recommended for anyone interested in Australian history, or with a love of wonderful writing.
July 11, 2023
I read this so many years ago but the knowledge of what I learned in the book has stayed with me all these years . I don’t even remember the specifics just that I loved it .. granted it was along time ago
March 26, 2025
I found this book series in the Australian authors section of a book fair in Canberra and decided to give it a try as a way to learn more about Australian history. I found it a great read and plan to search out the next book in the series next!
May 19, 2017
Interesting introduction to a series of books about settlement in Australia.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews