Exiled to Exalted

Written by Dane McCormack, a direct descendant of James Magee, Exiled to Exalted is an illuminating historical nonfiction exploration of Australia's convict heritage, that follows a 14 year old James Magee, from committing petty crimes on the treacherous streets of Toxteth Park in Liverpool. To being exiled as a convict halfway around the world for stealing a shawl, gown, sugar and brass pan. To being exalted for helping establish the Midlands of Van Dieman's Land as the breadbasket of the new colony. James then married the daughter of the free settler he was assigned to and living happily ever after. Dane's mother Janice McCormack nee McGee has spent decades searching for who James' parents were and where they lived, so Dane also wrote the book to explore where James lived, his life to find more clues about his heritage.

By following James' story, Dane wants people to better understand what life was like as a convict, how important convicts were to the new colony and the Australian culture. To contribute to knowledge about convicts and to discover more about James' heritage.

How did living in England and their subsequent experience shape them and despite their challenges, foster creation of a fair and inclusive country? It is all the more remarkable that they were being transported for opposing British cultural ideals. Convicts were exiled, but we need to exalt them for helping create this wonderful country we now live.

How did the convicts upbringing and eventual transportation lead to their fundamental role in creating one of the world's most democratic and culturally diverse nations?

Rather than being embarrassed by our convict heritage because our colony was built by a bunch of criminals, let's all exalt the convicts for not getting angry and upset about being exiled halfway around the world, but seeing it as an opportunity to create the country that they always wanted to live in.