MORGAN'S RUN

BOOK REVIEW-MORGAN’S RUN – A NOVEL ABOUT THE FIRST SETTLERS IN AUSTRALIA To understand this informative novel, we must know the background. All of England was the property of Lords. So poaching was common. If you fish in a stream, you will be jailed. The people produced children without any limit, but only the eldest was entitled for property. The rest either traveled to other places or lived by poaching. Jails were full. So they decided to settle the criminals in Australia, about which nothing was known, except the notes of Captain Cook. A large convoy of ships carrying soldiers, administrators and criminals started from London and reached Australia, after a number of months. The store of bred and other essential items was limited. Officers were given enough but prisoners were almost starved. Many were flogged for stealing a slice of bread. The author says that the negro slaves were at least fed properly. Who will buy a starving negro? The white prisoners died and were thrown into the sea! Our hero Morgan was a boiler mechanic. He was repairing one in a brewery, when he noticed that most of the liquor was channeled through secret pipes, to avoid excise duty. He reported the matter to the Authorities who penalized the company. The latter took vengeance. A young beautiful girl “fell in love” with Morgan who is a widower. When they had sex, the waiting “witnesses ”pounced on him and charged with immorality. Morgan was lucky because he knew how to make liquor, which was in good demand. On the way, they found oranges for the first time and there was no end to their joy! In Australia, the prisoners were made to saw wood. At Morgan’s recommendation, their ration was increased. Sundays, they were free to make their own homes. They saw strange animals like kangaroos and a bird that did not fly away, even when they touched it. They caught it and ate it. Ironically, Morgan did receive money and praise for bringing to light illegal production of alcohol! Such novels help us to know history which is otherwise forgotten after examinations.