Publisher Description

John Rickard's Australia: A Cultural History, first published in 1988, is still the only short history of Australia from a cultural perspective. It has also acquired a unique reputation as an introduction to the development of Australian society and was listed by the historian and public intellectual John Hirst in his 'First XI: The best Australian history books'.Although arranged chronologically, this book is not a chronicle, still less a laborious detailing of governors and governments: rather, it focuses on the transmission of values, beliefs and customs amongst the diverse mix of peoples who are today's Australians. The story begins with the sixty thousand years of the Aboriginal presence and their continuing material and spiritual relationship with the land, and takes the reader through the turbulent years of British colonisation and the emergence, through prosperity, war and depression, of the cultural accommodations which have been distinctively Australian. This Third Edition concludes with a critical review of the challenges facing contemporary Australia and warns that 'we may get the future we deserve'.

Author Biography

John Rickard is the author of two prize-winning books, Class and Politics: New South Wales, Victoria and the Early Commonwealth, 1890-1910 and H.B. Higgins: The Rebel as Judge. Janet McCalman has described his innovative book about the family of Alfred Deakin, A Family Romance, as 'elegant, discreet and imaginative' and 'scholarship of skill and sensitivity'.Rickard has written widely on Australian culture and biography. In his youth he worked as an actor and singer. He is an emeritus professor at Monash University.

Review

A perceptive, balanced, wide-ranging interpretation of the evolution of modern Australia which is both erudite and well-written. -- Duncan Bythell

Long Description

'Aperceptive, balanced, wide-ranging interpretation of the evolution of modernAustralia which is both erudite and well-written' -- Duncan Bythell JohnRickard's Australia: A Cultural History, firstpublished in 1988, is still the only short history of Australia from a culturalperspective. It has also acquired a reputation as an introduction to thedevelopment of Australian society and was listed by the historian and publicintellectual John Hirst in his 'First XI: The best Australian history books'. Althougharranged chronologically, this book is not a chronicle, still less a laboriousdetailing of governors and governments: rather, it focuses on the transmissionof values, beliefs, and customs amongst the diverse mix of peoples who aretoday's Australians. The story begins with sixty thousand years of Aboriginal presence and their continuing material and spiritual relationshipwith the land, and takes the reader through the turbulent years of Britishcolonisation and the emergence, through prosperity, war, and depression, of thecultural accommodations which have been distinctively Australian. This third edition concludes with a critical review of the challenges facing contemporaryAustralia and warns readers that 'we may get the future we deserve'.

Review Quote

A perceptive, balanced, wide-ranging interpretation of the evolution of modern Australia which is both erudite and well-written. -- Duncan Bythell

Details