The History of Australia

Australian history has been written for over two centuries beginning with European explorers and colonists attempting to convey something of the complexity of the strange upside-down world they encountered in the southern hemisphere. Of course, aboriginal peoples had lived in Australia for millennia before the arrival of the whites. Modern Australia has its foundations in these two cultural strands. Intertwined with these are the impact of colonialism and federation, indentured servitude and convict transportation, the effects of El Niño on European-style farming techniques, gold rushes, and longstanding issues of ethnicity, immigration, and religious tolerance. Covering these topics and more, this most recent and up-to date narrative history of Australia includes a timeline of major events, a biographic sketches of noteworthy historical figures, and a bibliographic essay.

Noted historian of Australia, Francis Clarke, provides a complete, comprehensive, and contemporary account of the political, economic, and cultural forces of each period of Australian history and gives readers a clear understanding of the many factors that have shaped the country. Written for a general audience, The History of Australia is the perfect introduction to Land Down Under.

Author: F. G. Clarke, Frank G. Clarke
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 04/30/2002
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.11lbs
Size: 9.72h x 6.14w x 0.94d
ISBN: 9780313314988

Review Citation(s):
American Reference Bks Annual 01/01/2003 pg. 204

About the Author

FRANK G. CLARKE is Professor of History at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and the author of six books and many articles and book reviews in the area of Australian History. He is also a regular broadcaster on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) national radio programs.