Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & New Zealand - Australia    3. Australia & New Zealand - General    4. Convict ships    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Penal colonies    9. Prisoners    10. History / General   

Editorial Review

The late Bruce Chatwin carved out a literary career as unique as any writer's in this century: his books included Read more

Reviews (51)

Best of the best
This is the kind of writing/reflecting many people do while travelling and is not a "how to" type of travel guide.I've recommended this book to several thoughtful people, given it to many thoughtful teens as they begin to self-discover, and re-read the book twice.VERY nice writing, good thoughts, great ideas about humans.

The Songlines
As i never wanted to go to Australia, i have to say that after reading this book i have not changed my mind, but it is not a point. It is not a book about traveling in Australia. It is more a book about walking, for example. As i like walking, i have found in this book so many great examples of what the walking is about, it is not just moving from one point on the Earth to another, it is also philosophy. And so on...this book is highly recommended for those who knows what the word "travel" means. In present time many people travel, but just a few ones deserve to be called "traveller". Bruce Chatwin is among them.

Read before you go!
I wish I had read this book prior to our traveling to Australia.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1940-1989    2. Aboriginal Australians    3. Australia    4. Australia & Oceania - Australia    5. Chatwin, Bruce,    6. Description and travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. General    9. History - General History    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Social life and customs    12. Travel    13. Chatwin, Bruce    14. Ethnic studies    15. Journeys    16. Social Science / Anthropology / General    17. Travel writing   

Editorial Review

An extraordinary volume--even a masterpiece--about the early history of Australia that reads like the finest of novels. Hughes captures everythingin this complex tableau with narrative finesse that drives the readerever-deeper into specific facts and greater understanding. He presentscompassionate understanding of the plights of colonists--both freemenand convicts--and the Aboriginal peoples they displaced. One of thevery best works of history I have ever read. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Fatal Shore
It was very detailed about the early history of Australia's settlement colonies including in Norfolk Island, Van Dieman's Land(Tasmania) and New South Wales.It described famous stories of cannabalism, the relationship to the aborigines, the brutality of the penal settlements and the conditions in Ireland and Great Britain that caused the convicts to be shipped half way around the globe.

The Fatal Shore
The book is a fascinating account of the history of Australia.The early years, the time of the penal colonies, are most interesting, and the material should be a story of courage and survival that will hold any reader.As the author suggests, the early history of Australia may be known to many, but rarely has it been clearly depicted in narrative form.

Masterpiece
An extremely well written acocunt of Australia in the early days of colonisation. Taken from various sources and accounts, Hughes guides the reader through a blood soaked and sun bleached story of 18th century survival. The transformation from where Australia was just 200 years ago to where it is now is a testament to the people who came to the colonies first. The Fatal Shore is their story.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1788-1900    2. Australia    3. Australia & New Zealand - Australia    4. Exiles    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Penal colonies    9. Australasian & Pacific history    10. History / Australia & Oceania   

Editorial Review

There is a clarity, elegance, and beauty to Conway's Read more

Reviews (42)

no title
I related to and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Conway's descriptions of Australia are beautiful.She has written a follow-up book which I would like to read also.And on second reading, I feel more and more that perhaps her mother had some chemical imbalance, because she changed so drastically.Either that, or her repressed emotions after the deaths of her husband and her oldest son in the space of five years, led her to the bitter old woman she became.

An Excellent Choice - The Road from Coorain
I'd recommend the The Road from Coorain anytime.I thought Jill Ker Conway's description of Australia was wonderfully descriptive. I felt I was there as she described her life in the bush as well as the city.Her ability to convey her feelings and her understanding of her situation growing up in a less than idealic life came through the pages as each situation developed. The book left me admiring her strength of character and understanding.
I loved this one and loved Sujoya Roy's novel too
If you enjoyed this book, try For Ganesh: Remover of Obstacles, by Sujoya Roy. Both books tell compelling stories of coming of age of trailblazing women who came to the U.S. from other countries to pursue education. Ker Conway brought her Australian experience; Roy's heroine brought Hindu and India culture. Both have contributed significantly to our world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1934-    2. Australia    3. Australia & New Zealand - Australia    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Childhood and youth    9. Conway, Jill K.,    10. Country life    11. Historical - General    12. Literary    13. Presidents    14. Smith College    15. Women    16. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    17. Biography: general    18. Conway, Jill K    19. Reading Group Guide   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    4. Design - Decorative    5. History - General    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (4)

Great overview of mediterranean climates
This book is great.It has plenty of pictures, diagrams and drawings.Most of the pictures are not in color, however, which is its biggest downfall.It is not a detailed evaluation of mediterranean climates nor is it a good plant ID book, but provides an excellent overview for both the layman and scientist.It provides informatin on the plants that make the mediterranean climate unique and the typical plant communities that are found in them.It is great for someone who doesn't want to get bogged down with individual species and wants to see how all the parts fit together.I first checked this book out of my local library and felt it would be such a good reference book for work, play and travel that I had to have it.The book uses the most scientific and inclusive use of the term Mediterranean which means you are going to get descriptions of plant communities from San Diego to Sacramento to San Francisco.For those of us that prefer the more exclusive definitions it may come as a shock that San Francisco and Sacramento could be considered mediterranean so I'm warning you now.I am currently using this book to help plan a trip to Australia as a supplement to Lonely Planet's travel guides.This book has inspired me to visit all the world's mediterranean climates at some point in my life and I'm not even a plant lover.

Author's Credentials
Peter Dallman, a retired pediatric doctor and docent at Strybing Aboretum in San Francisco, California, spent many years
A thoughtful, beautifully produced book
This book falls into a category somewhere between botany, climatology, and geography; it looks at several different types of "mediterranean climate" around the world, and describes the different vegetational types within each region, explaining (in a scholarly but accessible way) why these plant communities look the way they do.Read more

Subjects:  1. Life Sciences - Botany    2. Mediterranean-type plants    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Plant communities    5. Science    6. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    7. Nature / General   

Reviews (1)

Interesting themed art book
This book features photos of artworks from many time periods showing dogs.Most of the artworks are realistic in style.Towards the end, there are a few more modern paintings.I wish the author would have included more modern paintings.Anyway, this is a great book to introduce young children to art appreciation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Art, Modern    4. Dogs in art    5. General    6. History - General    7. Special Subjects In Art    8. Subjects & Themes - General    9. Australia    10. Dogs    11. History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900    12. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    13. Nature / Dogs   

Subjects:  1. College And University Faculty    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Educational Policy & Reform    5. Higher    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    7. Australia    8. Canada    9. Higher & further education    10. History / Europe / General    11. Organization & management of education    12. USA    13. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (7)

Beautiful Expression of Kanaka-Maoli History and Lifestyle
This compendium of beauty and history will be enjoyed and cherished by all ages. Children will revel in the wonderfully intricate paintings of Kane. He is able to express the baeauty and unique culture of his people. His descriptions andhistorical information truly shows his love for the islands and of all things kanaka. I reccomemend this to anyone interested in a loving people.

The prints sell it
I bought this book to be able to describe ancient Polynesian life. The photos are treasure troves of information. The text is almost secondary, even if it is right on track. Well worth the cost if only for the beauty of the prints. Did I say the pictures were pretty?

Trip to the Past
Before the grand hotels and resorts, before crowded beaches, before paved roads and cars... there was sacred Hawai'i of old.Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Australia & Oceania - South Pacific    4. Civilization    5. General    6. Hawaii    7. History: World    8. Literary Criticism    9. Oceania   

Reviews (22)

THE IMMORTAL BON SCOTT
Mr Walker has done an EXCELLENT job with this book on Bon. He writes with beautiful sensitivity and empathy. He is a great narrator, making this book a compulsive read and impossible to put down. You really will not find a more complete and more accurate book on Bon Scott, than this one. Congratulations Clinton Walker, and may your brilliant book sell many more millions of copies !!

Bon Scott is etched into my heart & soul and will remain there FOREVER!
If you are going to read a biography about Bon Scott and/or AC/DC then THIS book is definately the one to read.
Rocker
Despite the playful title, Highway to Hell is quite an intelligent read about Bon's storied career.Ample attention is given to Bon's pre-AC/DC career, with a lot of detail and insight into the Australian pop music scene of the 70's.I did feel that the AC/DC years could have been more thorough, but considering no one in the band cooperated with the author, I guess that's to be expected.A good read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AC/DC (Musical group)    2. Australia    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Composers & Musicians - Rock    8. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    9. Genres & Styles - Rock    10. History & Criticism - General    11. Rock musicians    12. Scott, Bon    13. Biography: film, television & music    14. Music    15. Music / Rock    16. Rock & pop   

Subjects:  1. Photo Techniques    2. Photography    3. Scenic Photo Collections    4. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    5. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Australasia    6. Australasian & Pacific history: postwar, from c 1945 -    7. Australia    8. Photographs: collections    9. Photography / Travel   

Reviews (1)

SUPERB OVERVIEWOF OCEANIC ART
The book gives an excellent overview of the art in the Oceanicregion with special emphasis on New Guinea.Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Australia & New Zealand - General    4. History - General    5. History Of Fine Arts    6. Oceania    7. ASIA    8. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    9. Melanesia    10. Micronesia    11. Polynesia   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Australia    3. Australia & New Zealand - Australia    4. Australia - History    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. History / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (6)

The Brotherhoods
Fair reading. Takes place in Australia, so things are a little different here in the USA. The author is pretty knowledgable and took a long time to research the material. The book is more like a text book than for entertainment.

Very informative book
This is a great book with loads of informationabout the motrocycle scene and the motorcycle clubs such as Bandidos,Hells Angels Gypsy Jokers and other australian motorcycle clubs.The author who is a psychologist dual citizenship and started life in U.S.A would make one wonder how someone who was not a patch wearer and did not have a motorcyclewould be the premier independent expert on these clubsand gangs.
An insight into Australian biker clubs
Arthur Veno is actually American born and was even at the infamous Hells Angels Monterey incident in 1969 as a teenager. Now Arthur lives in Australia, which he has called home for almost 30 years, and his curiosity in what could be best described as "patch clubs" has almost been a life long interest.Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Motorcycle clubs    3. Motorcycle gangs    4. Motorcycles    5. Motorcycles - General    6. Popular Culture - Counter Culture    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - General    10. Sociology Of Organizations    11. Subculture    12. Association: clubs, societies    13. Cultural studies    14. Motorcycles: general interest    15. Social Science / General    16. Social history   

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Botany    3. History    4. Life Sciences - Botany    5. National Herbarium of New Sout    6. Plant collecting    7. Plant collectors    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Botany & plant sciences    11. Photography / General   

Reviews (4)

concise history of australia
According to the author, Australian history is 200 years of racism, sexism, oppression, dominance, exploitation. The victims are aborginal people, women, the early convicts -- and the environment.The villains, of course, are white males. When the Australian economy dips, the fault lies with the U.S., world capitalism and neoliberalism. When the Australian economy thrives, it just means Aussies can waste more money on bourgeois geegaws. The tone is humorless, unrelenting, shrill, one-sided -- a prime example of what one Australian referred to as "black armband history".

How could concise seem so long?
The first thing that came to mind as I trudged through Macintyre's wordy book was how could something called "concise" seem so long? This book is informative but entirely humorless, like reading an ingredient list. Macintyre seems more concerned with showcasing his vocabularity then with enticing you with the facinating history of Australia's past. There is plenty of information in this book if you can make it through to the end while maintaining consciousness. If you are about to visit Australia and you are looking for an entertaining and informative book to stimulate your enthusiasm I strongly recommend Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country. If you are looking for a strong sedative then this is the book for you.

Informative and well-written
I have long wanted to read a general history of Austrailia, and when I read. on April 3, 1988, The Fatal Shore, by Robert Hughes, I said to myself, in my post-reading note:"I am glad I read this book, but maybe I'd've done better to read a plain history of Australia than this long account of this aspect of its beginning."I am shamed to say that it has taken over 12 years to do what I thought I should have done back then.This book goes up to 1999, and portrays very well the current dilemmas facing Australia.If you enjoy the articles in Current History, as I do, this book reminds me of those articles, except it is less bland and neutral.Ordinarily I avoid histories with designations such as "short" or "concise" figuring that I want a fuller treatment.But when one knows as little of a country as I do of Australia, I thought this a good introduction to its history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & New Zealand - Australia    3. Australia & New Zealand - General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Australasian & Pacific history    8. Australia--History    9. History / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (4)

Timeless Memoir Captures Youth Like No Other
I read this book for the first and second times last night. Timeless Memoir Captures Youth Like No Other
I read this book for the first and second times last night. A Classic of Island Literature
A great book that captures the feel of Hawaii.Victoria's Hawaii is gone but the 'feel' of the place is timeless.Her description of Hawaiian music,plate lunches and hundreds of other details of island life are righton target.If you've been captivated by the idea of islandlife...readthis book.You'll be on the beach,breathing in plumerias as long as youreyes cross the words. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. 20th Century Description And Travel    3. Australia & Oceania - South Pacific    4. Description and travel    5. Handicapped    6. Hawaii    7. History - General History    8. Homes and haunts    9. Nelson, Victoria,    10. Oceania    11. Social life and customs    12. Travel    13. Nelson, Victoria   

Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Australia    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Concepts - Alphabet    6. Description and travel    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. People & Places - Australia & Oceania    10. Social life and customs   

Subjects:  1. Australia & New Zealand - General    2. Encyclopedias    3. General    4. History    5. History: World    6. Oceania    7. Oceania - History    8. Reference    9. Australasia, Oceania & Other Land Areas    10. History of other lands    11. Pacific Ocean    12. Pacific studies    13. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. Cartography    2. History    3. History: World    4. Maps & Road Atlases    5. Science    6. Travel    7. Cartography, geodesy & geographic information systems (GIS)    8. History of science    9. Technology / Cartography