A selection of four award-winning historical TV dramas adapted from the works of best-selling authors A.B Facey,Marcus Clarke, Helen Simpson and Rolf Boldrewood, Classic Australian Stories 2 explores the harsh conditions of colonial life and the many challenging experiences that helped shape a nation. A FORTUNATE LIFE A.B. Facey Told in four dramatic episodes, this is the extraordinary tale of an ordinary Aussie battler. At eight years old, an impoverished Bert Facey was forced to start the backbreaking, dawn-to-dusk life of a farm labourer. Unschooled, his father dead, abandoned by his mother, by the age of twenty he had survived the rigours of pioneering the harsh Australian bush and the slaughter of the bloody WWI campaign at Gallipoli. FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE Marcus Clarke Disinherited and driven from his home in England, Richard Devine (Colin Friels) changes his name to Rufus Dawes but is then falsely accused of murdering his real father. Transported to the notorious Port Arthur in Van Diemens Land, Dawes becomes a hardened convict subject to brutal clashes with fellow prisoners and his jailers, including the cruel Lt. Maurice Frere (Rod Mullinar) and Reverend North (Anthony Perkins). Dawes last hope for vindication is his passion for Sylvia (Penelope Stewart), daughter of prison Commandant, Major Vickers (Patrick Macnee). ROBBERY UNDER ARMS (Miniseries) Rolf BoldrewoodSam Neill stars as the enigmatic bushranger Captain Starlight. Joined by larrikin Ben Marston (Ed Devereaux) and Bens two sons (Steven Vidler and Christopher Cummings), Starlight leads his gang of wild colonial boys in search of riches and high adventure - including a nocturnal train hijack and a hot-air balloon assisted jailbreak. But the chief of police and his men are never far behind in their attempt to bring the outlaw to justice. UNDER CAPRICORN Helen Simpson In 1831 Charles Adare (Peter Cousens) arrives in colonial New South Wales and hopes to make his fortune in an exciting new land of opportunity. Charles endears himself to rich landowner Sam Flusky (John Hallam) in the hope of securing his future. In his grand pursuit of property, Charles is invited to stay with Sam and encounters his troubled wife Henrietta (Lisa Harrow) and devious housekeeper Milly (Julia Blake), entering a tumultuous passage of existence that will test his heart and sharpen his resolve.