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As yet another Captain Cook statue is splashed with paint and debate simmers around rallies and dates, we’ve asked leading historians to recommend an essential Australia Day read.
Their choices are illuminating and surprising: from a new account of Asian-Aboriginal contact in our north, to a 1958 consideration of our national stereotype that sadly still rings true.
All these books invite us to reflect on our history, whether the tenacity of myriad First Nations cultures, the legacy of the White Australia policy, or the repeated failure of referendums. As we do so, writes Tom Griffiths, “let’s consider paths not taken, as well as opportunities that still beckon”.
Elsewhere, Alice Grundy considers the implications of Penguin Random House Australia’s surprise acquisition of Melbourne-based Text Publishing. Text has published many of my favourite Australian novels, along with one of our recommended Australia Day reads: Clare Wright’s new history of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions.
The Text news comes only six months after another local publisher, Affirm, was acquired by Simon & Schuster. Text says it will retain full publishing control under the new agreement, with a charter of independence. Writers and readers will be watching closely.
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Lawrence Bamblett, Australian National University; Anna Clark, University of Technology Sydney; Benjamin T. Jones, CQUniversity Australia; Clare Wright, La Trobe University; Frank Bongiorno, Australian National University; Gregory Melleuish, University of Wollongong; Jane Lydon, The University of Western Australia; Thomas H. Ford, La Trobe University; Timothy Michael Rowse, Western Sydney University; Tom Griffiths, Australian National University; Yves Rees, La Trobe University
A barbecue, a protest … or a good book? We asked some of our leading historians to choose an illuminating Australia Day read.
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Alice Grundy, Australian National University
Mergers within the Australian publishing industry have significant implications for the literary culture.
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Oscar Davis, Bond University
We live in anxious times. But there is a long tradition of philosophical thought that addresses the problem of anxiety.
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Emma Cole, The University of Queensland
No other classic text has left such a mark on how we tell stories, create theatre, and structure film. But what does it actually say?
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Felix Schilk, University of Tübingen
Ideas about softness and weakness, hardship and strength, have been central to reactionary politics since the beginning of human history.
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Xiang Ren, University of Sydney
China’s version of TikTok, Douyin, and its biggest social media app, WeChat, are transforming reading in China – with more influence than BookTok.
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Tess Scholfield-Peters, University of Technology Sydney
How does one write the essence of a life once it has come to an end?Mark Raphael Baker’s A Season of Death is an intimate, at times harrowing, portrait of grief.
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More great reading
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Amy Hume, The University of Melbourne
Accent coaches and vocal performances are vital parts of actors creating characters – are we OK if AI gives a helping hand?
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Finley Watson, La Trobe University
The ‘fake podcast’ format isn’t just being used to spread misinformation. Many legitimate companies are also using it to sell their products and services.
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Wayne Mark Rimmer, University of Manchester
Homeric heroes must get nature on their side if they are to overcome the enemy.
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Matthew Duncombe, University of Nottingham
Ruling is a skilled trade, Plato argues. And like any other trade, not everyone has the talent or the training to be good at it.
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