Black Crows : An Episode of Old Van Diemen single work   short story   crime  
Issue Details: First known date: 1886... 1886 Black Crows : An Episode of Old Van Diemen
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Tale of a white man hung for killing a convict who shot an Aboriginal man, woman and child wantonly. Jack Hepburn, the only non-convict employee on a station on Tasmania's Emu Plains, warns a convict that he considers wanton shooting of Aborigines to be murder and will shoot the convict who does so. He does, and is tried, convicted and hung - the protection of Aborigines being no defence. Concludes with the parson's judgement that Hepburn can't enter heaven if he doesn't repent - and Hepburn's inability to do so. Plain, moving tale of manly principle. (PB)

Notes

  • From Longman's Magazine for June

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Australian Journal vol. 22 no. 256 September 1886 Z1031348 1886 periodical issue 1886 pg. 40-41
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Deep South : Stories from Tasmania Ralph Crane (editor), Danielle Wood (editor), Melbourne : Text Publishing , 2012 Z1891264 2012 anthology short story (taught in 1 units)

    'A wonderful collection of twenty-four short stories that celebrate the history, culture and creativity of Tasmania.

    'Tasmania is another country—a lush, sometimes foreboding island with a people fiercely protective of its history, culture and creativity.

    'This handsome collection, the first to bring together the finest stories about Tasmania, includes works by notable early Australian writers, such as Marcus Clarke and Tasma; internationally renowned practitioners, like Hal Porter, Carmel Bird and Nicholas Shakespeare; and a range of newer voices, from Danielle Wood and Rohan Wilson to Rachael Treasure. These twenty-four superb stories showcase the island's colonial past, its darkness and humour, the unique beauty and savagery of its landscape.

    'Both a must-read for enthusiasts of Australian literature and a perfect gift for lovers of Tasmania, Deep South comes with a critical introduction from the editors and biographical sketches of the contributors.' (Source: Text Publishing website)

         Melbourne : Text Publishing , 2012     pg. 11-20
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Last amended 7 Feb 2013 12:10:33
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