First Australians: An Illustrated History

by Perkins and Langton (Editor), Marcia Langton (Editor), Louis Nowra

First Australians , the companion book to the epic SBS TV series, is the dramatic story of the collision of two worlds that created contemporary Australia. Told from the perspective of Australia's first people, it vividly brings to life the events that unfolded when the oldest living culture in the world was overrun by the world's greatest empire. Through a vast collection of images and historic documents, seven of Australia's leading historians reveal the true stories of individuals-both black and white-caught in an epic drama of friendship, revenge, loss and victory in Australia's most transformative period of history. Their story begins in 1788 in Warrane, now known as Sydney, with the friendship between an Englishman, Governor Phillip, and the kidnapped warrior Bennelong. It ends in 1993 with Koiki Mabo's legal challenge to the foundation of Australia. By illuminating a handful of extraordinary lives spanning two centuries, First Australians reveals, through their eyes, the events that shaped a new nation.

Genres: Australia, History, Nonfiction, Indigenous

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Nikolas]

The TV series is excellent.

[Emmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Thought I knew enough about Australian history, this book opened my eyes. It's amazing how people can treat each other especially if they do things differently. Thank God the Aboriginal culture, customs, traditions and race in general has survived.

[Sophiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
An eye opening read about aboriginal history and the colonial atrocities they survived.

[Donald Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revealing.

[Shokufeh شکوفه Kavani کاوانی · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book as it recognises the Aboriginal history of Australia and the white people who recognised it......very powerful.