Prisons

Discover the world within the walls. Our prison history books cover the time from Queensland's first prison in the 1850s and up to the 1980s. Subjects include escapes, prison slang, life inside and prisoner biography.

The Houdini of Boggo Road: The Life and Escapades of 'Slim' Halliday
2020 / Christopher Dawson / 48 pages / illustrations, endnotes and bibliography / RRP $6.00

Two Division: Boggo Road's Last Prison
2020 / Christopher Dawson / 64 pages / illustrations and bibliography / RRP $8.00

Intemperance & the Train of Evils: A Life on the Wrong Side of the Tracks in Colonial Brisbane
2020 / Christopher Dawson / 72 pages / illustrations and endnotes / RRP $9.00

 Shivs, Bongs & Boob Guns: Made in a Queensland prison cell 
2010 / Christopher Dawson / 60 pages / illustrations and endnotes / RRP $8.00 (Inside History edition)

Illustrated Dictionary of Prison Language, Slang & Flash
2007/Christopher Dawson / 56 pages / illustrations and bibliography / RRP $7.00 (Inside History edition)

 That Gingerbread Structure: The Queen Street gaol (available soon)
2020 / Christopher Dawson / 64 pages / illustrations and endnotes / RRP $8.00

Popular posts from this blog

The Houdini of Boggo Road: The Life and Escapades of Slim Halliday

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Arthur 'Slim' Halliday was the most persistent escape artist in the history of Boggo Road. Newspapers charted his life inside the notorious prison for 40 years, and he remains one of the icons of the prison. This book chronicles the prison life of Halliday and follows his progression from train fare dodger to cat burglar to murderer. It details his numerous escape attempts from the prison that he hated so much and paints a picture of a highly intelligent but troubled man. This book is an update of the 'Houdini of Boggo Road' publication from Inside History (2005). Christopher Dawson (2020) 48 pages with illustrations, endnotes and bibliography RRP: $6.00 ISBN: 978-0-9873669-6-2
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Boggo Books

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Boggo Books is a not-for-profit publishing project based in Brisbane, Queensland. We aim to produce well-researched, accurate and affordable History publications. Explore these pages to discover our current range of titles on such subjects as prisons, suburban history, capital punishment and cemeteries. Please note: We are currently transitioning from the 'Inside History' book stock to the new 'Boggo Books' stock. The new titles will be added to this site as they become available.
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Illustrated Dictionary of Prison Language, Slang and Flash

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(Inside History edition) Do you know what a ‘boob gun’ is? How about 'burgoo’, ‘chocolate frog’, ‘peter thief’ or ‘shiv’? This illustrated dictionary introduces the reader to the language of the Australian prison world. The slang, jargon and official terminology described in these pages was used in the various gaols at Boggo Road, Brisbane. Features over 600 words from 19th and 20th century prisons, and the 'flash' language of the Australian convict era. Christopher Dawson (2007) 56 pages with illustrations and bibliography Only $7.00 ISBN: 978-0-9757441-8-5 Head louse, known as a 'boobie' in the 19th century, giving prisons the slang name of 'boob hatches'.
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