Posts Tagged ‘australian history’
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Book Review: Australian Story
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Summary (NLA website)
Once there was nothing. Then there was something …Take a trip into the past – from the explosive beginnings of our planet through the formation of the Australian landscape, the deeply entrenched history of our Indigenous people and past the white-sailed ships of the First Fleet to modern day Australia, in this fascinating journey through time.
Beginning with the creation of our country’s land, climate and modern-day shape, Australian Story: An Illustrated Timeline presents the key moments in our country’s geographical, faunal and floral formation, its first indigenous inhabitants, and modern day settlement. Featuring succinct entries on historical moments over the past 47 billion years, Australian Story covers such topics as ecological change, social upheaval, politics, invention, the industrial age, war, immigration, celebration, culture and modern technologyand presents it in a way that is visual, fun and thoroughly entertaining.
Comments
I attended a performance by John Cleese this evening before sitting down to write this review (stick with me, this will all make sense soon). During the performance, Cleese took the audience on a journey through his childhood and career, refering to several significant relationships and the impact they had on him personally and professionally. He also referred to luck and the opportunities he had simply because he was in the right place at the right time. Who he is now at this point in his life is a result of the relationships and significant moments – good, bad, unusual and unexpected – that he has experienced along the way.
I think that is what appeals to me most about this wonderful overview of Australian history for children. It is a collection of moments that together, gathered into a timeline, give young readers a pathway that leads to where we are now as a nation. From the forming of the land and the original inhabitants to convicts, colonial years, exploration, farming and wars to sports, food, clothing and a myriad of other details. Australian Story i: An Illustrated Timeline is a journey through the development of our nation from empty land mass to a country with incredible diversity and depth.
I enjoyed reading about so many Australian firsts – first Nobel Prize for Literature (Patrick White 1973), first Australian to enter space (Andy Thomas, 1998), first indigenous model on the cover of Vogue Australia (Samantha Harris, 2010) to name a few. I especially like the ending, the sense of possibility and the reminder that this journey isn’t over yet and that the children reading this book are going to be shaping how our country will develop in the coming years.
The images used in the book are from the digital archives of the National Library of Australia and they are a wonderfully eclectic collection of photographs, drawings, paintings and images of specific items. Scattered across the pages they add to the sense of journey and discovery.
Australian Story is a wonderful overview of Australian history, a collection of moments large and small that have shaped the country we are today. It is a great introduction to the diversity of Australian culture and history for children and will hopefully be a springboard for them to then seek out further information about specific events, people and items that particularly interest them.
For links to more reviews of Australian Story, teaching notes and a variety of other resources and articles associated with the book, visit Tania McCartney’s Australian Story book launch blog post. There are links to blogs involved in her book launch blog tour at the end of to the post or simply browse Tania’s blog.
Book Details
Title: Australian Story: An Illustrated Timeline
Author: Tania McCartney
Illustrations: Digital Archives of the National Library of Australia
Publisher: NLA Publishing, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-642-27745-9
Genre: Australian History, Junior Non-Fiction
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Book Review: The Blue-Eyed Aborigine by Rosemary Hayes
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Summary (Walker Books Australia)
Intriguing, hard-hitting story – first half is based on historical events, second half is fictional
It is 1629, and there is mutiny in the air aboard the Dutch ship Batavia as she plies her way towards Java with her precious cargo. Jan, a cabin boy, and Wouter, a young soldier, find themselves caught up in the tragic wrecking and bloody revolt that follow. But worse is to come… Based on the diaries of the ship’s Commander, Rosemary Hayes recaptures some of sea history’s most dramatic moments, linking the fates of of Jan and Wouter with discoveries that intrigue Australians to this day.
Comments
My knowledge of Australian history is rather limited and I am ashamed to say that I didn’t know very much about the Batavia before reading this novel, although I was familiar with the name of the ship and the fact that it was shipwrecked off the west coast of Australia.
I enjoyed reading this novel, partly because it sparked my interest in this evetn in Australian history and partly because it didn’t romanticise life on board the Batavia or the actions of the crew and soldiers after they were shipwrecked. As a work of historical fiction it was both entertaining and informative and it inspired me to read more about the fateful voyage of the Batavia and the events that followed the shipwreck.
I thought that Hayes’ fictional ending to the story seemed quite plausible and it will be interesting to see what further evidence science uncovers to support her theories about Jan Pelgrom and Wouter Looes having contact with local Aboriginal people.
The starkness of the descriptions of life on board the Batavia and the violent acts of some soldiers and crew after the shipwreck make me hesitant to recommend this book for readers under the age of 13, although I would certainly do so for teen readers, particularly those with an interest in Australian history.
Review Copy Details
Title: The Blue-Eyed Aborigine
Author: Rosemary Hayes
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
ISBN: 978-14-84780-078-7
Genre: YA Historical Fiction (13+)
Related Links
- Review of The Blue-Eyed Aborigine at Suite101.com
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Book Review: Mosquito Creek by Robert Engwerda
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Summary (from Penguin Books website)
Huge floodwaters have engulfed a remote Victorian goldfield, reducing the prospect of digging up a fortune from very slim to impossible, and adding disease to the many possibilities of sudden death in harsh conditions. As sickness starts to take its toll and calls mount for the rescue of diggers stranded by the raging torrent, Sergeant Niall Kennedy must try to keep order in a place where frictions can become murderous. Does a suspiciously abandoned tent suggest there has already been a killing? And why has Mosquito Creek’s erratic Commissioner Stanfield drafted in special troopers behind Kennedy’s back?
In a new country where everyone’s past has a question mark, asking too many questions is dangerous. But how else can you get to the truth?
Comments
I enjoyed this novel, although it didn’t have quite the feeling of suspense that I expected. I found that the ‘current’ crises – the rising floodwaters and the intrigue centred on the Commissioner – didn’t hold my attention as much as the central characters’ back story. For me, the highlight of the novel was the way it showed just how similar the characters on the goldfields were despite their disparate backgrounds and personal circumstances. Everyone had secrets to hide and everyone was haunted by ghosts from their past.
I generally enjoy reading about this period of Australian history and did enjoy the setting and descriptions of the Victorian goldfields in Mosquito Creek. I noticed the absence of significant reference to Indigenous Australians and Chinese settlers on the gold fields, but this didn’t particularly influence the flow of the story or appeal of the novel in general.
Overall, this was an interesting read with its appeal primarily the result of the characters and historical setting.
Review Copy Details
Title: Mosquito Creek
Author: Robert Engwerda
Publisher: Viking, 2010
Genre: Australian historical fiction
Related links
- Review of Mosquito Creek at Suite101
Book Review: E W Cole: Chasing the Rainbow by Lisa Lang
Title: E W Cole: Chasing the Rainbow
Author: Lisa Lang
Publisher: Arcade Publications, 2007 (90 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-9804367-0-9
Genre: non-fiction – Australian history, biography
Summary (from Arcade Publications website)
‘The reign of knowledge and humanity is coming’ – EW Cole
Lisa Lang introduces us to Melbourne’s most eccentric entrepreneur, taking us on the journey from EW Cole’s humble beginnings on the Victorian goldfields, to his bold establishment of the world’s largest bookstore, and original publication of the iconic and enduring Cole’s Funny Picture Books.
Comments
I vividly remember reading Cole’s Funny Picture Books when I was in primary school. I remember the covers – black with white writing and the bright rainbow arching across the front – and I remember the optical illusion illustrations and word puzzles. I guess it’s not all that unusual that I never really thought about the person who wrote the books. As a child, the book itself was far more fascinating than any author could be.
As an adult, I have recently started to track down copies of the Cole’s Funny Picture Books. I have a copy of the 67th edition of Coles Funny Picture Book No. 2 and thanks to Suz at Suz’s Space I have a copy of Cole’s Happy Puzzles, which is a collection of ‘Cole’s Happiest Puzzles and Pictures…and Picture-Puzzles madly happily edited by Cole Turnley and Merron Cullum’, Cole’s grandson and great-granddaughter.
Which brings me to E W Cole: Chasing the Rainbow by Lisa Lang, a rather fascinating little book about Edward Cole and his remarkable life. I never realised that Cole played such a significant role as an entrepreneur and part of the Melbourne marketing scene at the turn of the 20th century.
His ingenious marketing techniques make for a very interesting story and I was particularly entertained by his advertisement in the local paper when he decided it was time to find a wife – ‘she must be.. good-tempered, intelligent, honest, truthful, sober, chaste, cleanly, neat, but not extravagantly or absurdly dressy; industrious, frugal, moderately educated, and a lover of home.’ Her certainly had high standards and that’s just part of the list.
I was also fascinated to discover that Cole was a deep thinker who published pamphlets against the White Australia policy prevalent in the early years of Federation. He was also a passionate believer in the importance of education and literacy.
For anyone with fond memories of the Cole’s Funny Picture Books, E W Cole: Chasing the Rainbow offers a well-written, easy to read account of this very interesting man living in a very interesting period of Australia’s history. See the Arcade Publications website for ordering information.
Related links:
Review of E W Cole: Chasing the Rainbow at Suite101.com
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Book Review – The Night they Stormed Eureka by Jackie French
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Title: The Night they Stormed Eureka
Author: Jackie French
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2009 (291 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-7322-5841-8
Suitable Age: 10+
I’m a big Jackie French fan. I’ve always enjoyed her picture books and in the past 18 months have been impressed by the YA historical fiction titles that I have read. I think that she has a wonderful gift as a storyteller and particularly like the way she is able to portray a well known historical time or event in a fresh way.
In The Night they Stormed Eureka, 15 year old runaway, Samantha (Sam), finds herself travelling back in time to Ballarat in 1854. She is taken in by the Puddlehams, a kindly couple who run a meal tent, and discovers that she has arrived just before the fateful Eureka Stockade, a rebellion by miners and townspeople against the oppressive government authorities in the goldmining town of Ballarat in 1854.
French uses Sam’s inquisitiveness to educate readers about a range of customs and historical details. Sam is a very likeable character and although the time travel detail is obviously a fantasy concept, Sam’s character and behaviour seem very real and authentic. Her personal journey throughout the novel, as her self-confidence and affection for the Puddlehams grows, adds a more personal element to the historical tale.
One of the great drawcards for French’s historical fiction is the fact section at the conclusion of the story. The story itself is so compelling that readers are keen to continue reading through the additional information, where French explains various terms and customs and makes a point of highlighting where her story has deviated from actual events.
The Night they Stormed Eureka is another fantastic historical fiction novel from an accomplished and versatile author. I’ve mentioned recently that I most appreciate writing with intelligence and good humour and I think Jackie French writes with both as well as an obvious passion for her subject. Another wonderful story to share with readers both young and old.
Related links:
- Jackie French website
- Suite101 review – The Night they Stormed Eureka by Jackie French
- Suite101 review – A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French
- Suite101 review – Emily and the Big Bad Bunyip by Jackie French
- Suite101 review – The Camel who Crossed Australia by Jackie French
- Suite101 review – The Donkey who Carried the Wounded by Jackie French
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Book Review – The Stamp of Australia by Kelly Burke
1Title: The Stamp of Australia
Author: Kelly Burke
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 2009 (250 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-74175-614-2
Topic: Australian history – Australia Post bicentenary
Despite the fact that I have a (much neglected) stamp collection of my own, I approached reviewing this book with some trepidation. I expected a rather factual presentation of names, dates and places in a kind of extended timeline illustrated with various stamps of significance.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find that The Stamp of Australia is both interesting and engaging. Not merely an account of stamps issued and the development of Australia Post as a business, it also contains numerous anecdotes and selected personal accounts of letters sent and received.
The story of communication in Australia is very closely entwined with the exploration of the country, making this fascinating as a book about Australian history in general as well as the postal and communication service in particular. The Stamp of Australia is based on a Foxtel History Channel documentary of the same name.
My favourite anecdote by far, is the tragic story of stockman Jimmy Darcy. Darcy was thrown from his horse while mustering cattle in the Kimberley. A 12-hour, 65-kilometre buggy journey to Halls Creek post office saw Darcy receive medical treatment from the most qualified man in town – the postmaster who had completed a St John’s Ambulance course.
Receiving instructions in Morse code via 3674-kilometres of telegraph line, the postmaster Fred Tuckett performed a 7 hour operation to repair Darcy’s ruptured bladder. And I’m annoyed when I have to wait 24 hours to get an appointment with my GP! How times have changed.
This book is likely to appeal most to anyone with an interest in Australian history.
For a more detailed review of The Stamp of Australia, visit Susan’s reviews at Suite101.com.
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Book Review – Railway Portraits by Robert and Bruce Wheatley
1Title: Railway Portraits
Author: Robert Wheatley and Bruce Wheatley
Publisher: WriteLight, 2006 (112 pages)
ISBN: 0-9752450-6-6
Topic: Steam Engines + Australian Railroad History
One of the highlights of our recent excursion to Hunter Valley Steam Fest at Maitland was meeting Robert and Bruce Wheatley and purchasing a signed copy of their book Railway Portraits.
More than a book about steam engines, this collection of black and white photographs captures the spirit of the age of steam.
I am by no stretch of the imagination a railway enthusiast, but even I find the photographs in Railway Portraits fascinating. They are more than snapshots of trains and stations and they are more than a record of social and technological change and advancement.
For me, these photographs are intrinsically artistic, capturing not only moments in time but also preserving a glimpse of what makes the Age of Steam so fascinating for so many. What makes the artistic beauty of the shots even more remarkable is the age of the photographers, just 13 and 16, when their passion for steam engines and railways first led them to capture images of the railway life and “essence of the steam locomotive”.
Photographs span the years 1964 to 1979 and include images capturing the everyday life of railway workers driving and maintaining the engines. There are images of couplings, backplates, fittings and even the Goulburn North signal box cat (taken in 1978). My favourites are the two photographs of young children hanging over picket fences to gaze with fascination at a passing train.
Robert and Bruce mentioned another project soon to be completed and I admit that I can’t wait to see what other treasures their passion for steam engines and photography might produce. Watch this space for more details.
Visit Suite101.com to read a more detailed review of Railway Portraits.
