Bibliograph

Major Thomas, the bush lawyer who defended Breaker Morant and took on the British Empire, Greg Growden

Type

Label

Major Thomas, the bush lawyer who defended Breaker Morant and took on the British Empire, Greg Growden

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references

resource.biographical

individual biography

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Major Thomas

Nature of contents

bibliography

Responsibility statement

Greg Growden

Sub title

the bush lawyer who defended Breaker Morant and took on the British Empire

Summary

Opinion is still sharply divided on whether Breaker Morant and his Australian codefendants were criminals who got what they deserved, or scapegoats used by the British Empire. Major Thomas, the bush lawyer drafted in at the last minute to defend them, is invariably depicted as either a hero or an incompetent fool. Now, for the first time, Greg Growden attempts to unravel the truth about the lawyer and soldier who returned from South Africa a broken man. Before the Boer War, Major Thomas had been a pillar of his community. He was a published poet, newspaper proprietor, lawyer and decorated soldier, but defending Breaker Morant became the defining episode of his life. The former 'King of Tenterfield' endured a stunning fall from grace, slipping into bankruptcy and imprisonment. Thomas ended his days as an eccentric recluse, his life ruined by the ignominy and frustration of finding himself on the wrong side of history. For more than a century he has been a footnote in diverging historical arguments. A proper hearing for Major Thomas is long overdue

Target audience

adult

Creator