Clever Men: How worlds collided on the scientific expedition to Arnhem Land of 1948

by Martin Thomas

What really happened when Charles Mountford led a quarrelsome team of Australian and American scientists to explore traditional Aboriginal life in Arnhem Land in 1948.

'Here was I with the status of little more than a telephone mechanic, taking out the biggest scientific expedition in history'

In this way the legendary Charles Mountford immodestly described his biggest assignment: to lead an expedition of American and Australian scientists to Arnhem Land in northern Australia, investigating traditional Aboriginal life and the tropical environment. Backed by National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Australian government, it was also a display of the friendship between Australia and the US.

But the adventure turned out to be anything but friendly. In this compelling account, award-winning historian Martin Thomas tells how they set out with fanfare in 1948 and how quickly the expedition turned toxic. Thomas uncovers the secrets, scandals, and unlikely achievements. He also reveals how Indigenous communities, including the elders known as 'clever men', dealt with the intrusion of these foreign 'experts'.

Drawing on years of collaborative research with Arnhem Land communities, Clever Men is a poignant portrayal of colliding worlds. In this encounter between scientific hubris and the world's oldest surviving cultures, Thomas finds a story of global significance and profound long-term impacts.

'An epic saga of discovery, intrigue, obsession and pillage' - Margo Ngawa Neale

'Absolutely mesmerising' - Grace Karskens

'Depicted as an epic Shakespearean-like tragedy, Clever Men weaves complex strands in a compelling story of western interaction with Indigenous Australia.' - Peter Yu

'This galloping narrative of Arnhem Land draws on years of intense research by one of Australia's sharpest historians.' - Peter Read

'A deep dive into the fraught interface between the shallow, intrusive gaze and rapacious acquisitiveness of the expedition and the profound secret-sacred understanding of its Indigenous subjects' - Cassandra Pybus

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2025

About the author

Martin Thomas is a unique voice among the history writers of Australia. A Professor of History at ANU and an award-winning researcher, essayist, oral historian, and filmmaker, his work is driven by a deep interest in the meaning of landscapes, the legacies of colonisation, and the drama of cross-cultural encounter. He directed and co-produced a documentary film Etched in Bone. His book The Many Worlds of R. H. Mathews won the National Biography Award.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given by a dear friend who thought I might be interested. To be honest, it started slowly and I had little interest in learning about some of the peoples backgrounds who would be involved. However, I can see why the author took the time to do this after having read the book. The characters involved in the expedition need to be understood in view of their whole career in order to understand their conduct during the expedition. The authors deep respect for the indigenous people of Arnhem Land can be felt throughout the book. His writing is easy to read and made what the information come alive. This book is thoroughly researched and well written, well worth the read.