On the evening of 14 August 1829, the government brig 'Cyprus' was sheltering in Recherche Bay on the remote south-east coast of Tasmania when she was captured by eighteen convicts under the leadership of William Swallow, a prisoner for life. After marooning the crew, military guard and passengers on the desolate shore, Swallow skillfully sailed the brig across the Pacific to Tahiti then back to the Tongan Islands and on to Japan before finally scuttling her off the Chinese coast.

Warwick Hirst has written a fascinating account of a rogue whose undoubted leadership, determination and resourcefulness might, in different circumstances, have led him to a far more favourable fate.

Although going by the name of William Swallow, this resourceful chap was in fact William Warwick, who by his own account was born in 1792 in Sunderland. So no direct links we are aware of into the DNA of the Swallow family, but nevertheless for those interested in true life history it is a fascinating read.

www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Stole-Cyprus-Escape/dp/1877058610

Details: Hardcover: 240 pages; Publisher: Rosenberg Publishing (12 Mar 2008, ISBN-10: 1877058610, ISBN-13: 978-1877058615