Take Account: Constance Couronne, the Enslaved Child Who Defied Fate

In the "Take Account" section, we present the fascinating story of Constance Couronne. As an enslaved child, she was condemned for attempted poisoning in Mauritius, despite being manipulated. She was subsequently deported from the island's prison and arrived in Australia at the age of 10. To this day, she remains the youngest convict ever to land on the continent.

A new life awaited her there. Nowadays, Nicolas Couronne has discovered that he is a descendant of Constance's family. After seven years of research, he authored a book titled "The Ancestor's Slave Gaze," which earned him the title of co-recipient of the 2025 Jean Fanchette Prize.

Now, let us explore the narrative by David Boodhna and Khatija Soodhun.