1. Beginnings; 2. Newcomers, c.1600–1792; 3. Coercion, 1793–1821; 4. Emancipation, 1822–1850; 5. In thrall to progress, 1851–1888; 6. National reconstruction, 1889–1913; 7. Sacrifice, 1914–1945; 8. Golden age, 1946–1974; 9. Reinventing Australia, 1975-2003; 10. What next?
This insightful and eloquent book is the most up-to-date single-volume Australian history available.
Stuart Macintyre has been the Ernest Scott Professor of History at the University of Melbourne since 1990 and is a former president of the Australian Historical Association. His books include The Oxford History of Australia, Volume 4 (1986), A Colonial Liberalism (1991) and A History for a Nation (1994), and more recently, The History Wars (2003). Since 1999 he has been Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne.
From reviews of the first edition: 'At long last here is an
accessible, sensible, learned and digestible history of Australia.
It is a triumph of Stuart Macintyre's notable scholarship that he
has come up with a book that is concise - not brief, not
abbreviated - sharp and to the point …this is a tremendously useful
tool for locals and outsiders. It should sit on every Australian's
bookshelf, next to the dictionary and the atlas.' Nick Richardson,
Herald-Sun
'It's a lively, intelligent, opinionated and very well written
one-volume history, traversing some well-covered territory of
colonial and twentieth-century Australia with a fresh eye that
doesn't fail to observe the big and small picture.' David Gaunt,
Australian Bookseller & Publisher
'Macintyre has absorbed the considerable corpus of monographic and
interpretative works now thronging this field, and is masterly in
integrating that knowledge into his own narration. The result is a
work of surpassing professional skill.' Michael Roe, Australian
Book Review
'It's a splendid piece of work and it belongs to a noble tradition
… It conveys throughout a joy in writing history, in mastering the
detail of the past - a joy especially in struggling with the soul
of the country.' Alan Atkinson, Sydney Morning Herald
'Even those with a passion for the past often find it difficult to
be enthused by the histories of 'new' countries. This excellent,
compact volume about an ancient and harsh continent made anew over
the last two centuries shows just why those prejudices should be
put aside.' BBC History
From reviews of the first edition: 'At long last here is an
accessible, sensible, learned and digestible history of Australia.
It is a triumph of Stuart Macintyre's notable scholarship that he
has come up with a book that is concise - not brief, not
abbreviated - sharp and to the point ...this is a tremendously
useful tool for locals and outsiders. It should sit on every
Australian's bookshelf, next to the dictionary and the atlas.' Nick
Richardson, Herald-Sun
'It's a lively, intelligent, opinionated and very well written
one-volume history, traversing some well-covered territory of
colonial and twentieth-century Australia with a fresh eye that
doesn't fail to observe the big and small picture.' David Gaunt,
Australian Bookseller & Publisher
'Macintyre has absorbed the considerable corpus of monographic and
interpretative works now thronging this field, and is masterly in
integrating that knowledge into his own narration. The result is a
work of surpassing professional skill.' Michael Roe, Australian
Book Review
'It's a splendid piece of work and it belongs to a noble tradition
... It conveys throughout a joy in writing history, in mastering
the detail of the past - a joy especially in struggling with the
soul of the country.' Alan Atkinson, Sydney Morning Herald
'Even those with a passion for the past often find it difficult to
be enthused by the histories of 'new' countries. This excellent,
compact volume about an ancient and harsh continent made anew over
the last two centuries shows just why those prejudices should be
put aside.' BBC History
Ask a Question About this Product More... |