Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia

by David Day

A new and updated edition of David Day's exciting general history of Australia to the present day. By placing race at the center of the Australian story and linking it to a broader narrative of possession, dispossession and proprietorship, David Day's book is an important and timely look at what has shaped Australia's history.

Genres: History, Australia, Nonfiction

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

David Day has written widely on Australian history and the history of World War II. His biography of John Curtin won the 2000 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Prize for History and was shortlisted for the 2000 New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction, while his biography of Ben Chifley was shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier’s Award for History in 2002. David Day is currently an Honorary Associate with the History Program at La Trobe University and a visiting professor at the University of Aberdeen. He lives in Eltham, Victoria.

1986: Menzies and Churchill at War
1988: The Great Betrayal: Britain, Australia and the Onset of the Pacific War, 1939-42
1992: Reluctant Nation: Australia and the Allied Defeat of Japan, 1942-45
1992: Smugglers and Sailors: The Customs History of Australia, 1788-1901
1996: Contraband and Controversy: The Customs History of Australia from 1901
1996: Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia
1999: John Curtin: A Life
2001: Chifley
2003: The Politics of War
2005: Conquest: A New History of the Modern World - ISBN 0732277655
2007: The Weather Watchers - ISBN 9780522852752
2008: Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia

Reviews

[Heather Browning]

A fascinating look at the history of Australia, particularly focussing on the history of European settlement (/invasion) and subsequent race relations, both with Aboriginals and throughout the world. I found there was a lot I didn't know about the country and the motivations behind actions taken in the past. A great introduction to topics, giving me a feel for where I would like to learn more.

[Michael Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot. I thought it was a very balanced nuanced well put together history of Australia.