A Sort of Conscience : The Wakefields

Temple, Philip

ISBN 10: 1869402766 / ISBN 13: 9781869402761

Published by Auckland University Press, 2002

About this Item

Covers & Spine: both front and back boards are undamaged with only light wear along the edges and at corners, spine is solid with slight bumping at ends. Binding: firm throughout, both hinges strong. Pages & Markings: unstained, no markings, clean throughout. Dust Jacket: intact with only light scuffing on surface and along edges, no significant tears or tape repairs. PLEASE NOTE: Due to this item weighing more than 1 kg with packaging, postage cost for international orders (i.e. not Australian) may be more than what is shown here. Please email me if you would like a quote. All items are protectively packaged, and a postal tracking number will be sent to all customers whose current email address is registered with AbeBooks.

Seller Inventory # 007674

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Sort of Conscience : The Wakefields
• Publisher: Auckland University Press
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1869402766
• ISBN 13: 9781869402761
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Biography & Memoirs

About this title

Synopsis

At once notorious and visionary, Edward Gibbon Wakefield and his brothers played a key but controversial role in the early British settlement of New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Once famed as New Zealand's 'Founding Fathers', they have since become the arch-villains of all post-colonial scenarios of the past. Philip Temple, deciding that neither myth made good historical sense, saw that, astonishingly, there was no adequate biography of the family most responsible for the establishment of the Wellington, Nelson and Canterbury settlements.
In stitching together a net of letters and documents, Temple has produced the most comprehensive account yet of the Wakefield family's role in colonial development and self-government across the old Commonwealth. He follows not only the brothers' careers but also establishes the role of the Wakefield women and gives detailed accounts of Edward Gibbon Wakefield's first elopement and his later abduction of Ellen Turner. Temple explores Edward Gibbon's tortuous career through colonial politics from the 1830s to the 1850s and shows how he and his brothers and son strongly influenced, for good and bad, the founding of new nations. This engaging narrative, written in a strong and evocative literary style, relates a story of courage and vision, cupidity and stupidity, high risk and adventure, success against the odds and, ultimately, terrible tragedy.

About the Author

Philip Temple won a 1996 National Library research fellowship to work on a biographical study of the Wakefield family.