For the Term of His Natural Life

** "For the Term of His Natural Life" by Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke is a historical novel that tells a dark story about convict transportation to Australia. It follows Rufus Dawes, a convict wrongly sentenced to a terrible life filled with punishment. The book shows how cruel the prison system was and also how strong people can be, even in bad situations. The story starts with drama in Sir Richard Devine's family, including secrets and problems when his son, Richard, comes home. Things get worse after a shocking discovery, and Richard ends up near his dying grandfather, Lord Bellasis, which leads to a big mistake and Richard's unfair arrest. The story looks at ideas like guilt, who we are, and the tough lives of convicts, setting up Dawes's journey as someone hurt by the unfairness of society, beginning with his voyage on the convict ship, Malabar. **