★★★★ January 27, 2018
This “historical fiction” was a page turner and reinforced a theme that history does inform the present! Hundreds of years ago in Tasmania is a fascinating setting for the well developed characters. Circumstances are brutal for the poor and powerless and but the persistent struggle to survive with dignity is amazing in the author’s story telling. Tasman stimulated good discussion in a book club meeting.
~ Kitchen Cook
★★★★ January 27, 2018
Tasman grabbed my interest on the first page. The author develops great characters, some you mightily care for and others that make you constantly question how man can be so cruel and unjust to others of the same species. Ean’s journey is long, but Eger keeps you captivated through her excellent writing.
~ Linda B.
5.0 out of 5 stars HIstory Well Worth Reading
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2019
Tasman – An Innocent Convict’s Struggle for Freedom is an excellent read for Adults as well as Young Adults. Paddy Eger’s fictionalized tale gives us an authentic look into history…. Paddy has done an excellent job of bringing history to life, showing us the challenges Ian endures and in the end a love story. Ian’s tale of survival is well worth reading.
5.0 out of 5 stars Harrowing historical fiction
Back in the 80s one of my favorite TV shows was a mini-series about convicts in Australia. Reading Paddy Eger’s historical novel “Tasman” shook me even more.
It’s the mid-1800s….. A human life doesn’t count at the other side of the globe other than being a relentlessly exploited and tortured working creature.
Carefully researched and vividly written in first person, this novel leaves you gasping over the inhumaneness of which humanity is capable. And till the very last page you keep trembling for the future of a 16-year-old who lives through a man-made hell.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical fiction!
A captivating story with characters and situations that stay with you long after you have finished reading. I feel like the author has taken me back in time and I really met Ean and witnessed his struggles. A great read!
Meticulously researched and beautifully written, author Paddy Eger has discovered the secret recipe for a perfect gem of a book. Imagined through the eyes of a true poet, Eger immerses the reader in a gripping story of survival set in a cruel and vividly described environment..