Causer’s impressive introduction contextualises the Bryants’ escape—though extraordinary in some respects—within a broader timeline of convict resistance to colonial authorities. He builds on existing historiography, to show that absconding into the bush or escaping in a boat was a logical and not uncommon form of resistance in early New South Wales . . . Causer’s account is refreshingly transparent about exactly what evidence is available and what can be reasonably assumed, which serves as an important counterbalance to much 'unevidenced embroidering and embellishment of the historical record' in the past about the escape. This technique is also used to explain—rather than just call out—the many inaccuracies that have arisen about the Byrant party in the historical record. Causer’s meticulous tracing of the convict absconders through the archives, from their conviction to their release from Newgate, is a great strength of this edition. . . . Causer’s edition allows James Martin’s Memorandoms to shine as a primary source, but it also reveals the limitations of the archival record."