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Added 2025-01-23 21:48:37 +0000 UTCLiteracy in early Australia was surprisingly high, relatively speaking, still not everyone would have come to have this skill.
The Hermit of Van Dieman's land was one of the first books published in Australia and has been said to be 'the first Australian novel'. It's author was transported for forgery from England and wrote the book while serving his sentence in Van Diemen's land, go figure. At the time writing and publishing a book while serving a sentence was an offence which could get you transported to one of the more brutal penal stations IE Macquarie Harbor etc. As such the book was written under the pen name 'Simon Stukeley' and published via the local paper in installments before it's final form. It was kind of an open secret that Henry Savey was the author, but everyone kept their mouth shut so they could enjoy the story. Regardless of being granted a ticket of leave (his recommendation vaguely alluding to his prowess as a writer) and his popularity as such, Savey's final years are said to have been spent falling into debt and alcoholism.
You can find this book for free to read online https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Hermit_in_Van_Diemen_s_Land.html?id=sio3AAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y
