Review:
David Brouwer's Thunderbolt
Captain Thunderbolt: from horsebreaker to bushranger
By David Brouwer
CB Alexander Foundation Tocal, first published 2002
This edition 2007
By David Brouwer
CB Alexander Foundation Tocal, first published 2002
This edition 2007
Catalogued Genre: History
True Genre: History
Research: Mainly secondary-source
Source-references: Detailed
Accuracy: Variable
This is a nice-looking publication, printed on glossy paper with colour pictures and maps on the inside covers, and high-quality black-and-white maps and reproductions throughout the text. For these reasons, it is a good addition to the library of Thunderbolt publications.
The text, however, contains many errors because the information was largely extracted from secondary-source publications. Only 20% of the listed source-references are from original records. Of the remainder, 33% are extracted either from Brennan’s Police History (which is little more than fiction – see Review) and from Bob Cummins’ Thunderbolt biography (which is riddled with errors – see Review). Accordingly, the publication repeats many errors contained in the other books – one of the dangers of using secondary-source publications rather than primary-source records.
But it looks good.
True Genre: History
Research: Mainly secondary-source
Source-references: Detailed
Accuracy: Variable
This is a nice-looking publication, printed on glossy paper with colour pictures and maps on the inside covers, and high-quality black-and-white maps and reproductions throughout the text. For these reasons, it is a good addition to the library of Thunderbolt publications.
The text, however, contains many errors because the information was largely extracted from secondary-source publications. Only 20% of the listed source-references are from original records. Of the remainder, 33% are extracted either from Brennan’s Police History (which is little more than fiction – see Review) and from Bob Cummins’ Thunderbolt biography (which is riddled with errors – see Review). Accordingly, the publication repeats many errors contained in the other books – one of the dangers of using secondary-source publications rather than primary-source records.
But it looks good.