The astonishing story of James Hardy Vaux, writer of Australia's first dictionary and true-crime memoir, reveals the unique language of convicts that once baffled colonial magistrates. Terms like 'togs', 'yarn', 'sly', and 'snitch' are part of the flash language that emerged in Australia, prompting marine officer Watkin Tench to call for an interpreter in court. Vaux, a conman and thief born into comfort in England, was drawn to a life of crime, leading to his transportation to Australia three times. His extraordinary talents and audacity allowed him to ingratiate himself with authorities during his second sentence, where he began writing a dictionary of the colony's criminal slang. This work was recognized for its uniqueness and eventually published in England. Kel Richards brilliantly narrates Vaux's story, enriched by Vaux's candid memoir of misdeeds, one of the first true-crime memoirs ever published. The book intertwines the inventiveness and humor of Australian English with the history of disreputable characters, echoing works like The Surgeon of Crowthorne and Oliver Twist. It’s a captivating read for those who appreciate the power of words and the convict contribution to our idiom.
