Great Southern Land : A New History of Australia - Softcover

Welsh, Frank

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140291326 ISBN 13: 9780140291322

Publisher: Penguin UK, 2005

Synopsis

Australia is a dynamic multi-cultural society, viewed by many as the world's most desirable place to live. Here Frank Welsh traces Australia's intriguing and varied history to examine how this society emerged, from its ancient Aborigine tribes and earliest British convict settlements to today's modern nation - one that retains strong links with its colonial past but is increasingly independent and diverse. While full of admiration for Australia, Welsh also exposes national myths and confronts the darker side of its history - oppression of the Aboriginal peoples and the 'White Australia' policy - and places the country in a global context, considering the changing relationship with Britain and its Asian neighbours, as well as more recent alliances with the US. Original, provocative and entertaining, Great Southern Land provides the most comprehensive one-volume history of this endlessly fascinating nation.

About this title

From the Publisher

Australia: A New History of the Great Southern Land is a major new account that places Australia's History fully in a global context, drawing on sources from the United States, Britain, Africa, and Canada, as well as within Australia itself. In a compelling narrative, acclaimed historian Frank Welsh traces the history of the land from scattered convict settlements to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 and on to today's thriving independent nation, exposing many myths in the process. This book also explores the dark side of Australia's history: the long-continued "White Australia" policy, which bedeviled foreign policy for more than a century; the still-tortured official relationship with the Aboriginal peoples; the subordination of women; the flaws in the constitution. Also examined is Australia's uneasy relationship with its Asian neighbors and isolation from Britain and the United States, it traditional allies. Original, provocative, and witty, Australia is the most comprehensive single-volume history of Australia yet published. It makes a strong claim to becoming the standard work on this fascinating and often misunderstood country.

About the Author

Frank Welsh was born in Washington, County Durham, and educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He has had a varied career in international business and banking, including service on the boards of nationalised industries and as a member of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service. His books include The Four Nations: A History of the United Kingdom, The Profit of the State, Uneasy City, Building the Trireme, A History of Hong Kong and A History of South Africa.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin UK
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0140291326
• ISBN 13: 9780140291322
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 768