Esther: Extraordinary True Story of the First Fleet Girl Who Became First Lady of the Colony by Jessica North

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Previous owners have signed inside page.

The little-known rags to riches love story of a convict girl who arrived in Australia on the First Fleet.

Much like another, better-known colonial woman, Elizabeth Macarthur, Esther Abrahams successfully managed her husband's property and became a significant figure in the new colony.

Esther only just escaped the hangman in London. Aged 16, she stood trial at the Old Bailey for stealing 24 yards of black silk lace. Her sentence was transportation to the other side of the world.

She embarked on the perilous journey on the First Fleet as a convict, with no idea of what lay ahead. Once on shore, she became the servant and, in time, the lover of the dashing young First Lieutenant George Johnston. But life in the fledgling colony could be gruelling, with starvation looming and lashings for convicts who stepped out of line.

Esther was among the first Jewish women to arrive in the new land. Through her, we meet some of the key people who helped shape the nation. As the leader of the Rum Rebellion against Governor Bligh, George Johnston became Lieutenant-Governor of NSW, making Esther the First Lady of the colony, a remarkable rise in society for a former convict. (back cover)