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Morgan's Run
Morgan's Run
Author: Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough captivated millions with her beloved worldwide bestseller The Thorn Birds. Now she takes readers to the birth of modern Australia with a breath-taking saga brimming with drama, history, and passion. — It was one of the greatest human experiments ever undertaken: to populate an unknown continent with the criminals of En...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780671024185
ISBN-10: 0671024183
Publication Date: 2002
Pages: 848
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 68

3.6 stars, based on 68 ratings
Publisher: Pocket
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Alameda avatar reviewed Morgan's Run on + 336 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
4-1/2 Stars!

This woman can write - 825 pages of story and all of it detailed, in-depth etc (she wrote The Thorn Birds). All of her books are like a mini-series. The characters are in-depth, the time periods are accurate, the novel is based around actual events - a hella'va good story teller -
reviewed Morgan's Run on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
HMcCullough's narrative skills are fully displayed in this intricately researched, passionate epic of 18th-century England's colonization of Australia, in which an upright Bristol tavernkeeper, Richard Morgan, becomes one of the first British convicts to be sent to the rugged new prison colony of Botany Bay. It is not enough that Morgan is struggling with grief, having lost his wife and two children in three separate tragedies. He discovers that his employer is scamming the government of excise taxes, but when he reports the fraud, he becomes the target of the distiller's revenge. Framed for robbery and extortion, he is arrested and thrown into prisonDa hellish pit of overcrowding, disease and filthDthen convicted and sentenced to seven years transportation on the infamous slaver ships bound for Australia; the success of the American Revolution has closed the New World to England's unwanted population. During the horrific sea journey, Morgan becomes a leader among the men, protecting handsome Fourth Mate Stephen Donovan (called a Miss Molly by the crew), and forging a friendship that will last a lifetime
cobaltcats avatar reviewed Morgan's Run on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book - to the extent that I hope there is a sequel planned. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was Morgan, from Wales, so besides my interest in the story, it got me wondering...how do you do a family tree?
reviewed Morgan's Run on + 84 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Colleeen gives us a very good historical novel about the first folks to be landed on the Australian soil with no skills, no tools, no supplies and no food. Its a very good book to give us the reason why they were sent there. A must read.
GrandmaJanie avatar reviewed Morgan's Run on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
an excellent saga, full of detail about those unfortunate early settlers in Botany Bay.
Read All 19 Book Reviews of "Morgans Run"

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reviewed Morgan's Run on
Except for one episode -- the lowest, most vulnerable point in the life of the protagonist, Richard Morgan -- this 600-page book is full of stories of his integrity, his dignity, his noble character.

I was amazed at the depth of research McCullough must have done to capture not only Bristol, England in the late 18th century, but intricacies of ships, sailing, the seas, and finally the early settlement of Australia by convicts, of which Morgan was one.

I would recommend this book -- in spite of the graphic language and explicit descriptions of not only intimacy but of cruelty. They were not gratuitous, but a depiction of the times and places. Well researched, well written. I also liked the fact that the main character was a real person. What this must mean to his descendants - of which McCullough's husband is one (four times great grandson)!
reviewed Morgan's Run on + 448 more book reviews
A good book makes you think about what is happening in the book when you are not reading - as if it has a life of its own. I was smitten at first chapter. The blue print of the ship, the background of the characters, the detailed settings, allowed me to fall into the pages. I cannot say enough about the eloquent writing style, the historical information, and the sorry situations the characters find themselves in. IF you are a historical fiction buff, IF you enjoy reading about past lives, and IF you love reading, you will want to read Morgan's Run.
reviewed Morgan's Run on + 353 more book reviews
I like this book even though it was a slow read for me. Slow because so much to take in in her writing. The life of a so called convict sent to an island to fend for themselves. Hope she continues this story.
reviewed Morgan's Run on + 13 more book reviews
Great story. Long, over 800 pages and not with the big print that everyone's using nowadays. I'll be looking for the sequel.
reviewed Morgan's Run on + 7 more book reviews
I listen to books on tape in my automobile and found that I had to really listen closely to the words as they are spoken with a strong English accent.

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Original Publication Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
People/Characters
Richard Morgan (Primary Character)

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