Review of 'Swallow' by Alexandria Burnham
Release date: November 1, 2025
Publisher: Westwords Books
REVIEW
‘This morning the tide was the colour of bruises.’
What a rollicking, riveting read filled with humour, danger and chaos! Alexandria Burnham has delivered an unforgettable voyage back in time to a unique period in Australia’s convict history. Her prose style is exceptional. With an eye for detail and the gift of eloquence, this story hums along with force and purpose: very much reflecting the main character’s traits and actions. Alexandria’s research is impeccable. Armed with a wealth of facts, she delivers a story that seems almost too good to be true. And although she weaves the truth with imagination, this seemingly larger than life character was real. Her descriptions of the events, locations and characters made it seem like I was watching a movie. I could see it all as if on a big screen (which possibly is attributed to her screenwriting skills). I was carried away to the dangerous world of ‘Swallow’ a real pirate who ironically often reminded me of the fictional movie character Jack Sparrow from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean with his charm, charisma, wit, romantic views and ability to get himself out of outlandish predicaments. Slippery as a fish, sly as a fox, a trickster when necessary who could fast talk his way out of most dire situations.
The name Swallow he chose is an interesting one. As these birds are known to be heralders of homecoming. Their characteristics are admirable. They are loyal and ‘return to the same nest year after year.’ This is intriguing because in many ways it does reflect certain aspects of our main character. He keeps trying to get back home to his ‘nest’ with his wife but there are always distractions, detours and developments that keep him away.
The time of this novel is 1829. William Walker’s (Swallow), Australia’s last man to be put on trial for piracy in England, is convicted and sent to Van Dieman’s Land to do his sentence and probably die on Sarah Island. This is the dreaded place convicts do not want to go. Tasmania’s first and harshest penal colony, was meant to strike fear in the hearts of those who were threatened to be sent there. Its bone jarring reputation was created in hopes of preventing convicts from behaving badly. But the truth of it, it was a harsh environment. The entrance to the island harbour was so dangerous it was nicknamed Hells Gates: a place of severe isolation and fierce punishment. Its precarious location alone meant it was savaged by brutal winds and unyielding rains. ‘A prison purely for punishment’. As John West, a Tasmanian historian said, it was ‘a place of degradation, depravity and woe.’
But being Swallow, he had other plans than dying in the penal hell hole. Mutiny is on his mind so he rallies his fellow convicts to join him. He wants to get back home to England to his wife and children that he clearly seems to love. But a shadow falls across his heart. A forbidden relationship that follows him on his journey, even after betrayal.
Having William tell his own tale in first person is a clever approach. This makes him more approachable to the reader as we get inside his head and see how he comes to his conclusions and actions. We discover he has learned some of his crafty skills from John, a fellow convict. Who ‘taught him to weigh all possibilities’ and to use others to save himself. He draws upon this other man’s strength to take over the Cyprus. And continues to be guided by his voice and memories. ‘Your lie needs to be near enough to the truth…Exaggerate only when needed, and lean on the facts which can’t be disputed. Control your narrative in the mind of others.’ This is something Swallow does over and again. But sometimes he is self-assured and other times he questions his directions and tactics.
We learn in Swallow’s recollections, that in his younger sailing years, his ‘taste for the thrill’ was obvious. Floridia was one of the proudest clippers he ever sailed, when his ‘body had been at its strongest and most agile’ and together they dared push the limits of their voyages, going farther, taking on extra loads to the reach the farthest port. I loved the poetic image of Icarus in this line as it clearly reflects Swallow’s daringness and love for adventure. ‘We’d sailed closer and closer to the setting sun, wings burning…’
Swallow has a moment when he questions his past. If things had turned out differently, where would he be today? If the Floridian had not sunk, would he still have chased his thrills, or found reason to stay home with Susie? Would he have avoided thieving? Or as he says: ‘...was my transportation, John, and the Cypres, to have always been my fate?’ He contemplates two very different ‘imagined’ responses, from the two loves of his life. ‘Susie would disagree…’ and state ‘no matter his mistakes, he would make amends. He could change from who he was, to what he hoped to be.’ But John would say: William would have ended up where he was, still chasing the thrill of adventure, because that was who he was. (So which one is he?)
I could write so much about this enlightening story full of witty banter, incredible descriptions, danger and challenges that shed light on this man’s life and those around him. The rigorous sailing experiences, his run-ins with the law, and his desperate attempts to escape his predicaments and grasp freedom to return home. This novel clearly takes us on a journey of discovery of who Swallow was. Even while he is trying to figure himself out! Through his eyes, we experience his tragedies and triumphs and other times we feel like we are being suspended on a gangplank over the wild waters of a ship. This exploration of Swallow’s psyche, the rules and culture of the time, the tug of war on emotions of self against self, is all here on these pages in a bright bold display.
Alexandria Burnham has done an amazing job delivering this mega thrilling story that she resurrected from the dusty pages of history for the world to see. Her extensive research on this is admirable and obvious. Putting Swallow at the captain’s wheel to tell his own story—to control his own narrative— is fitting. To hear it all in his own voice moves us closer to the flesh and blood man he was, instead of presenting him through a third person outsider looking in on a legend.
Epic, eventful and enjoyable. This first instalment of this amazing story is a winner! And I look forward to reading more of William Swallow’s adventures in the books to come. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Alexandria Burnham and Westwords Books for the review copy.
