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Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags
An incredible collection of true crime characters from Australia's master storyteller.
The bold, the bad, and the slightly mad…
Criminality, some say, is part of Australia's national identity, and in Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags Jim Haynes profiles fifteen larger-than-life Aussie rogues - some of our greatest ne'er-do-wells from colonial times to the modern era. These stories uncover the truth and expose the myths about characters ranging from the most despicable examples of humanity, to those whose courage has to be admired and whose so-called 'crimes' were unjustly punished.
This fascinating collection features felons who have sprung from Australia's underbelly since 1788, such as the infamous Kate Leigh of the razor gangs; the convict Mary Bryant, who in 1791 escaped from the Sydney penal settlement and somehow made it back to England; James Hardy Vaux, who was sent to Australia no less than three times; Henry James O'Farrell, the madman who attempted to murder Prince Alfred in Sydney in 1868; and John Leak, who was repeatedly charged with insolence, disobedience and being absent without leave in World War I - and awarded the Victoria Cross.
Told with Jim's inimitable combination of history and humour, Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags is packed with murders, mystery and miscreants: true stories of true criminals from Australia's past.
The bold, the bad, and the slightly mad…
Criminality, some say, is part of Australia's national identity, and in Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags Jim Haynes profiles fifteen larger-than-life Aussie rogues - some of our greatest ne'er-do-wells from colonial times to the modern era. These stories uncover the truth and expose the myths about characters ranging from the most despicable examples of humanity, to those whose courage has to be admired and whose so-called 'crimes' were unjustly punished.
This fascinating collection features felons who have sprung from Australia's underbelly since 1788, such as the infamous Kate Leigh of the razor gangs; the convict Mary Bryant, who in 1791 escaped from the Sydney penal settlement and somehow made it back to England; James Hardy Vaux, who was sent to Australia no less than three times; Henry James O'Farrell, the madman who attempted to murder Prince Alfred in Sydney in 1868; and John Leak, who was repeatedly charged with insolence, disobedience and being absent without leave in World War I - and awarded the Victoria Cross.
Told with Jim's inimitable combination of history and humour, Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags is packed with murders, mystery and miscreants: true stories of true criminals from Australia's past.
- GenresNonfiction
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2022
10 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Jim Haynes
67 books8 followersThe son of British migrants, Jim attended Sydney Boys’ High and Sydney Teachers’ College. He taught in schools and universities in NSW and Britain, has two masters’ degrees in literature, from New England University and the University of Wales in the UK, and is the author of 24 books.
Jim’s book, Australia’s Best Unknown Stories, made it into the top ten best-seller list for his publishers Allen & Unwin. He was Writer in Residence at Charles Sturt University in 2011 and has also taught writing, performance skills and song-writing for The Arts Council of NSW, University of New England, SA Arts Council, Victorian Folk Council and Australian Performing Rights Association.
A professional entertainer since 1988, Jim has recorded for Festival, Sony and ABC Music and has had many songs in the Country Music Charts, including a number one with ‘Since Cheryl Went Feral’ and a national hit with ‘Don’t Call Wagga Wagga Wagga’. He won the Comedy Song of The Year award four times and toured his own show for many years.
Jim still performs as an entertainer and speaker, works in radio as the Australiana expert on 2UE.
Jim was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Australia Day Honour's List in 2016, 'for service to the performing arts as an entertainer, author, broadcaster and historian'.
Jim’s book, Australia’s Best Unknown Stories, made it into the top ten best-seller list for his publishers Allen & Unwin. He was Writer in Residence at Charles Sturt University in 2011 and has also taught writing, performance skills and song-writing for The Arts Council of NSW, University of New England, SA Arts Council, Victorian Folk Council and Australian Performing Rights Association.
A professional entertainer since 1988, Jim has recorded for Festival, Sony and ABC Music and has had many songs in the Country Music Charts, including a number one with ‘Since Cheryl Went Feral’ and a national hit with ‘Don’t Call Wagga Wagga Wagga’. He won the Comedy Song of The Year award four times and toured his own show for many years.
Jim still performs as an entertainer and speaker, works in radio as the Australiana expert on 2UE.
Jim was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Australia Day Honour's List in 2016, 'for service to the performing arts as an entertainer, author, broadcaster and historian'.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 21, 2023
In Great Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags author Jim Haynes counters the romanticised vision of some of our nation’s historical criminal figures.
Drawing on trusted sources including contemporaneous newspaper articles and court transcripts Haynes relates the crimes of fifteen real life people of the 19th and early 20th century. Divided into three parts, broadly by the severity of their misdeeds, Haynes includes convict escapee Mary Bryant, cattle rustler Harry Readford, swindler James Hardy Vaux, gangster Kate Leigh, and killer Eugenie Fallini. Haynes attempts to seperate the legend from truth, provides some social and cultural context and compelling detail.
There are a few illustrations, mainly portraits, and reprints of notices etc. that enhance the text.
A fascinating read, especially for those interested in Australian history and true crime.
Drawing on trusted sources including contemporaneous newspaper articles and court transcripts Haynes relates the crimes of fifteen real life people of the 19th and early 20th century. Divided into three parts, broadly by the severity of their misdeeds, Haynes includes convict escapee Mary Bryant, cattle rustler Harry Readford, swindler James Hardy Vaux, gangster Kate Leigh, and killer Eugenie Fallini. Haynes attempts to seperate the legend from truth, provides some social and cultural context and compelling detail.
There are a few illustrations, mainly portraits, and reprints of notices etc. that enhance the text.
A fascinating read, especially for those interested in Australian history and true crime.
May 31, 2024
Okay.
May 15, 2023
This is a well researched and entertainingly written account of 15 of Australia's more colourful and interesting rascals, rogues and ratbags. It begins in the era of transportation and ends with the Fine Cotton affair. Whilst some of the characters are fairly widely known such as the notorious Kate Leigh, most are far less well known. They range from the madman who attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria's son Prince Alfred through the insubordinate, often AWOL soldier who became Queensland's first VC winner to the hilariously incompetent gang behind the Fine Cotton racing ring-in.
Along the way, Haynes provides many interesting historical tit-bits such as the fact that Florence Nightingale provided professional advice on the design and management of Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and that a gaol-break in Western Australia came perilously close to causing another war between Britain and the USA.
There's even the story of the scurrilous publisher whose press antics seem like a forerunner of Rupert Murdoch's current fact free publications. This earlier scandal sheet producer was really tarred and feathered ... not that I'd want to give latter day American readers of this review untoward encouragement !
Along the way, Haynes provides many interesting historical tit-bits such as the fact that Florence Nightingale provided professional advice on the design and management of Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and that a gaol-break in Western Australia came perilously close to causing another war between Britain and the USA.
There's even the story of the scurrilous publisher whose press antics seem like a forerunner of Rupert Murdoch's current fact free publications. This earlier scandal sheet producer was really tarred and feathered ... not that I'd want to give latter day American readers of this review untoward encouragement !
October 13, 2024
I found this book sadly disappointing and somewhat boring. It lacked any real substance and whilst trying to stay true to the story of these people and avoid fabrication to legend levels it was just in my opinion flat and uninteresting.
July 3, 2025
This was a really interesting collection of Australian criminals who aren’t Ned Kelly, would totally recommend just for the final story alone which is one of the most amazing story I have ever heard. Fine Cotten should be made into a movie
February 4, 2023
This was an fun read about some of the colourful characters from Australia’s past. Some of the stories were quite interesting
February 25, 2023
Some I knew others not so much
October 16, 2023
I wasn't aware of some of these stories. The author was able to keep engagement throughout the storytelling.
December 6, 2023
Mostly convict men but a few Indigenous men and a few women made it.
February 10, 2024
After reading the reviews, I thought that I would have been a fan...... I was wrong. Maybe 1 or 2 interesting stories but i was bored. Goodbye $20.
July 3, 2023
A collection of short stories about some of the colourful Australian characters
July 6, 2024
Most of the characters are semi interesting, perhaps Katie Leigh was the most interesting story, can’t say much for the ratbags.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews