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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'In this classic piece of Australian literary heritage, Russell Ward looks at the ideals, traits and behaviours Australians think as typical of themselves. His now famous, penetrating analysis of nineteenth century Australian history shows how the characteristically Australian traits first found expression in the frontier life of the nomad pastoral workers of the outback, eventually pervading Australian literature and life in general. Ward has drawn on both English and American literature, documents and statistics, journals and papers and perhaps most vividly of all, on Australian folk-songs and ballads for his account. First published in 1958, this important literary work is now available in a striking new jacket for a further generation of Australian readers.' (Publication summary)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Reading Humphrey McQueen's A New Britannia in Decolonial Time
2021
single work
essay
— Appears in: Overland , Spring no. 244 2021; (p. 12-19)'There are books that, without you even knowing it, have shaped who you are as a thinker. I was reminded of as much on re-reading Humphrey McQueen’s A New Britannia: An argument concerning the social origins of Australian radicalism and nationalism. First published in 1970, my well-thumbed third edition from 1986 had been picked up at a second-hand store to replace an earlier fourth edition published in 2004 and now yellowing on some long-lost acquaintance’s bookshelf.' (Introduction)
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The Return of the Silenced : Aboriginal Art as a Flagship of New Australian Identity
2019
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Anglica : An International Journal of English Studies , vol. 28 no. 3 2019; (p. 71-84)'The paper examines the presence of Aboriginal art, its contact with colonial and federation Australian art to prove that silencing of this art from the official identity narrative and art histories also served elimination of Aboriginal people from national and identity discourse. It posits then that the recently observed acceptance and popularity as well as incorporation of Aboriginal art into the national Australian art and art histories of Australian art may be interpreted as a sign of indigenizing state nationalism and multicultural national identity of Australia in compliance with the definition of identity according to Anthony B. Smith.' (Publication abstract)
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y
Northern Dreams : The Politics of Northern Development in Australia
North Melbourne
:
Australian Scholarly Publishing
,
2018
14049080
2018
multi chapter work
criticism
'Northern Australia is rediscovered by each new generation of Australian politicians. Dams, mines, large transport projects, a food bowl for Asia and many other projects are promised and sometimes delivered, but then the political momentum fades away and the focus of attention turns to other issues. What is often missing in discussion is the region’s long history of nation-building initiatives and proposals, stretching back to 1901. Without this knowledge we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past.
'Northern Dreams brings to life the passionate arguments about Northern Australia’s national significance and analyses the political debates that have periodically drawn the public’s attention northwards. It also highlights the role that Australian politicians such as Gough Whitlam, Ben Chifley, Robert Menzies and Bob Hawke played in shaping northern development policies to suit their times. Northern Dreams is the definitive history of the politics of northern development in Australia.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
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Books That Changed Me : Warren Fahey
2015
single work
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 9 August 2015; (p. 16) -
The Russel Ward Case : Academic Freedom in Australia during the Cold War
2014
single work
criticism
— Appears in: History Australia , December vol. 11 no. 3 2014; (p. 31-52) 'Until recently, historians assumed that the 1956 'Ward case', in which the historian Russel Ward was denied a lectureship at the New South Wales University of Technology (now the University of New South Wales), was an example of Cold War political repression in Australian universities. When this orthodoxy was challenged in the conservative journal Quadrant in 2004, the incident was brought to the edges of Australia's 'History Wars'. While it sheds some light on the Cold War intellectual environment, the significance of the case is also derived from its place in this more recent debate, and is boosted by Ward's status as author of the classic text, The Australian Legend (1958). This article draws on previously unexamined records to evaluate the evidence surrounding Ward's failed appointment.' (Publication abstract)
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Untitled
1956
single work
review
— Appears in: Melbourne University Magazine 1956; (p. 61-62)
— Review of The Australian Legend 1958 multi chapter work criticism -
Convicts and Bushmen
1959
single work
review
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 7 January vol. 79 no. 4117 1959; (p. 2)
— Review of The Australian Legend 1958 multi chapter work criticism -
Social Influences on Literature
1959
single work
review
— Appears in: Westerly , no. 2 1959; (p. 30-31)
— Review of The Australian Legend 1958 multi chapter work criticism -
[Review] : The Australian Legend
1959
single work
review
— Appears in: Quadrant , Winter vol. 3 no. 3 1959; (p. 85-86)
— Review of The Australian Legend 1958 multi chapter work criticism -
Untitled
1959
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 3 January 1959; (p. 11)
— Review of The Australian Legend 1958 multi chapter work criticism -
Mate, You're a Legend
2003
single work
essay
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 17-18 May 2003; (p. 4-5) -
Great Cultural Thesis on Fair Dinkum Aussie
2006
single work
column
— Appears in: Canberra Sunday Times , 30 April 2006; (p. 14) -
The Australian Legend : Fifty Years On
2008
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Quadrant , September vol. 52 no. 9 2008; (p. 78-80) -
Palmer and Ward on the Gold Rush
1988
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Women and the Bush : Forces of Desire in the Australian Cultural Tradition 1988; (p. 95-98) -
Legendary Australians
The Legend and the Legacy
2008
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Writing Across the Continent 2008;
Awards
- 1958-1959 joint winner Ernest Scott Prize Shared with Dr Keith Sinclair author of A History of New Zealand