Three Years With Thunderbolt - The Narrative Of William Monckton who for three years attended the famous outlaw Frederick Ward, better known as Captain Thunderbolt....
Edited by Ambrose Pratt
Published by N.S.W. Bookstall Company: Sydney 1910 1st Edition
Scarce 1st Edition BUSHRANGER title
- no others available online globally at time of listing.
"Three Years with Thunderbolt: The Narrative of William Monckton (edited by Ambrose Pratt, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Company, 1910) presents a vivid firsthand account of life alongside one of Australia's most notorious bushrangers, Frederick Ward — better known as Captain Thunderbolt. Told through the recollections of William Monckton, who claimed to have served as Ward's companion and aide for three years, the book offers an intimate perspective on the outlaw's exploits across New South Wales during the height of colonial bushranging. Monckton describes Thunderbolt not merely as a criminal, but as a complex, charismatic figure driven by circumstance, hardship, and a fierce sense of independence. The narrative is rich with episodes of daring robberies, narrow escapes, and the harsh realities of life on the run.
Ambrose Pratt's editorial hand lends the story a polished, almost romantic tone typical of early 20th-century adventure writing, blending Monckton's recollections with broader historical context and moral reflection. The book captures the tension between outlaw legend and colonial law enforcement, providing readers with both thrilling action and insight into the rugged social landscape of rural New South Wales. While modern historians treat some of Monckton's claims with caution, the work remains a colourful piece of Australian bushranger lore — part memoir, part mythmaking — and a key text in shaping the enduring legend of Captain Thunderbolt as the "gentleman bushranger."
A scarce but worn copy. General wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. All illustrations/plates present as called for. Several loose pages in middle third of the book with some insect damage to these pages as shown. A few institutional stamps present from the Flinders Mechanics Institute. Book presents as complete despite the few loose pages. A decent copy of a particularly scarce Australian Bushranger title. Please study photos to further understand condition.
