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The Men That God Forgot
The story of the escapees from the hell concentration camp of Van Dieman.
223 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1983
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Richard Butler
174 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 21, 2020
One of those long discarded from the library books I appreciated but observed that other readers didn't usually enjoy. Perhaps the bleak setting and circumstances. Maybe, because I had hitch-hiked in the rain, and more rain, in Tasmania I could appreciate the conditions a little better.
Nevil Shute wrote a Tasmanian tale I've read several times. One of his mid-level tales, one where the locale and climates are primary characters, as it is where the Men That God Forgot.
The Rainbow and the Rose
And the copied ... "KIRKUS REVIEW
In 1833 the hellhole Sarah Island penal settlement on the jungle-dense southwest coast of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) was finally judged to be too barbarous even for the soldiers guarding the prisoners, and was ordered closed. The last group of ten prisoners to leave overpowered their captors and left them behind while commandeering a frigate and sailing for liberty in Chile. Hard weather sank their ship but make port they did in Valdivia. First thrown in prison, they were released to become shipwrights and then settled down to the heavenly delights of Spanish culture and family life. Nonetheless, the British navy sought them out and all died or were shipped to the even more horrible penal settlement of Norfolk Island in the mid-Pacific. Butler tells his minor tale swiftly and colorfully, with adequate characterizations; it is fictionalized nonfiction, rather four-square and without the sweep of the great mutiny and escape novels."
Nevil Shute wrote a Tasmanian tale I've read several times. One of his mid-level tales, one where the locale and climates are primary characters, as it is where the Men That God Forgot.
The Rainbow and the Rose
And the copied ... "KIRKUS REVIEW
In 1833 the hellhole Sarah Island penal settlement on the jungle-dense southwest coast of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) was finally judged to be too barbarous even for the soldiers guarding the prisoners, and was ordered closed. The last group of ten prisoners to leave overpowered their captors and left them behind while commandeering a frigate and sailing for liberty in Chile. Hard weather sank their ship but make port they did in Valdivia. First thrown in prison, they were released to become shipwrights and then settled down to the heavenly delights of Spanish culture and family life. Nonetheless, the British navy sought them out and all died or were shipped to the even more horrible penal settlement of Norfolk Island in the mid-Pacific. Butler tells his minor tale swiftly and colorfully, with adequate characterizations; it is fictionalized nonfiction, rather four-square and without the sweep of the great mutiny and escape novels."
February 13, 2022
True story about another English penal colony at Tasmania. The prisoners get possession of a boat and escape, making their way to Chile. There was a brilliant love story, which was tasteful and very redeeming. The book tells of the harsh conditions and punishments doled out to prisoners. Once I could finally get the graphics of that out of my head, I read about the Tasmanian striped dog that is now extinct. My mind wandered off. I couldn't really keep such good track of the men. I hear there are better renditions of this story that were written. It makes me sad that Australia is being tried out as a remote totalitarian experiment at the moment and that mainstream media hides the brutality from us with propaganda only. May we live normal very soon.
July 25, 2019
An exciting convict escape story. This is a fast-paced account of an historical event in the early 1800’s involving a cunning escape from a penal colony in western Van Diemans Land (now Tasmania).
The story is warmed up and padded out with good character development of the main prison guards and convicts involved. You can see how hard life in these circumstances would have been with strict punishment for minor infractions. Many floggings. It shows a range a attitudes from both sides alike: strictness, power, apathy, fraternity and respect.
The escape plan was brilliant. I won’t reveal it but boy was it good. To think of the remoteness of the colony and lack of resources any yet such a daring gamble. I was constantly amazed at how things turned out.
I learned so much about this period. Not just with penal colony life but also how the nearby rivers and places were named.
I would recommend this to all Australians and moreso, Tasmanians. This book is rich in early Australian history and relevant to how we have become as a nation.
The story is warmed up and padded out with good character development of the main prison guards and convicts involved. You can see how hard life in these circumstances would have been with strict punishment for minor infractions. Many floggings. It shows a range a attitudes from both sides alike: strictness, power, apathy, fraternity and respect.
The escape plan was brilliant. I won’t reveal it but boy was it good. To think of the remoteness of the colony and lack of resources any yet such a daring gamble. I was constantly amazed at how things turned out.
I learned so much about this period. Not just with penal colony life but also how the nearby rivers and places were named.
I would recommend this to all Australians and moreso, Tasmanians. This book is rich in early Australian history and relevant to how we have become as a nation.
July 25, 2012
Probably one of the most depressing books I've ever read. Very rarely do I get rid of books when I've read them, this was an exception.
January 18, 2018
A lovely retelling of the Frederick seizure. I loved that the focus of this novel was on John Barker, as everything I have read before had been focussed on James Porter. The love story between Charles Lyon and 'Sarah' was sweet and sad.
As this is a telling of a true story, the climatic points and flow of the tale are not necessarily in keeping with many novels - but the fact that this is a true story is what makes it grand.
As this is a telling of a true story, the climatic points and flow of the tale are not necessarily in keeping with many novels - but the fact that this is a true story is what makes it grand.
December 26, 2016
Read this three times now (and the final time). A great story, especially as it is a true story. And although the men stole a ship and sailed away to form new lives, the fact they avoided violence wherever possible. They did indeed make new lives living honestly, forming families. It saddens me as some are eventually caught and made to account for their crimes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2016
A compelling story of the extreme hardship inflicted in petty criminals by the English. To send men, some for quite menial crimes, to such a desolate place off Tasmania's south coast. This is a story of how nine of those convicts escaped, started new lives, but were eventually recaptured.
March 19, 2019
Read this one in one rather depressing sitting. The fact that it was a true story made the whole thing even sadder.
December 14, 2020
what a tremendous story; worth telling; well-written and plausible
January 11, 2026
Found it in a DOC hut, read cover to cover in a few hours. Good story? Or did I just get to the hut to early and was bored?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews