AustLit

'‘In fifty years…nobody will then know anything about our troubles.’

'1939: Paul Kurz ― engineer, refugee from Vienna and Dunera Boy ― is separated from his wife, Paula, and his mother at the outbreak of World War II and interned in Australia. 

'Late 1960s: an Australian student from an Irish Catholic family railing against his alcoholic father, struggling with his religious upbringing and coming to terms with his sexuality strikes up a profound friendship with Paul, two generations older. 

'Decades after Paul’s death, he pieces together Paul’s incredible story from surviving family letters, and travels to Vienna to discover Paul’s history and that of the city ― its beauty, its violence, its cruelty, what Paul loved and how he suffered there. The letters reveal Paul’s heartbreaking separation from Paula, his life in exile in England and Australia, his desperate attempts to reconnect with his wife and the eventual fateful outcome. 

'This lyrical, poignant account combines memoir, biography and history to explore the enduring influence of one elderly Holocaust survivor and the intergenerational impact of the famed Dunera.' (Publication summary)

'When Jewish survivors of the Holocaust arrived in Australia after World War II, they were filled with hope that they could build a new life. These survivors found themselves in a country not only blessedly far from the chaos of post-war Europe but also on the periphery of the political changes taking place in the West, such as the stirrings of a Cold War. Australia offered the peace so necessary to those who had been through unspeakable tragedy.

'With their arrival, Australian Jewish communities would change dramatically. The survivors brought with them Yiddish, the lingua franca of East European Jewry, and their distinct European culture. A new era began as Jewish culture flourished and Jewish society developed in Australia.

'Yet these survivors continued to live with their searing memories. They were appreciative of the sanctuary Australia offered, but their nightmares still haunted them. Many carried with them the scars of their traumatic experiences in the camps and in hiding from the Nazis. Some were unable to forge loving relationships with their children or spouses – whom they married to create a new family to replace those they may have lost – resulting in fraught family dynamics. Many were never fully free of the ghosts of their terrible suffering under German occupation.

'Translated into English for the first time, these seven testimonies provide a window into the experiences of these survivors. Introduced by acclaimed Australian scholar Professor Paul Bartrop, Survival and Sanctuary is an exploration of the tension between hope and despair in the aftermath of war, and ultimately a demonstration of the power of the human will.' (Publication summary)

'My father, political activist Samuel Mark Goldbloom, was my hero and my nemesis all the days of his life.

'Sandra Goldbloom Zurbo grew up in thrall to her father, a prominent socialist and covert member of the Communist Party. From an early age, she adopted his political beliefs, becoming a supporter of the Soviet Union and an anti-war advocate. She travelled with him, meeting figures such as Indonesian president Soekarno, and greeting Paul Robeson and North Korean delegates at home.

'But Sam could be withholding and difficult. He had a fierce temper and a sharp backhand and was not always a faithful family man. When Sandra entered adulthood and began to navigate a patriarchal world of work and relationships, she came to question aspects of her father's worldview. As the communist ideals of the Left were tested and faltered over the Soviet Union, the mood of the times gradually shifted to embrace the counterculture. Sandra, working in the artistic swirl of Melbourne's Pram Factory and the lively independent publishing scene, absorbed ideas about women, family and Jewish culture that often led to tense conversations with her father. When Sam falls sick and hopes to end his suffering, his daughter's devotion undergoes a final test.

'My Father's Shadow is a portrait of life on the Left during a time of great social change. Lyrical, sharply observed and affecting, it is a candid exploration of the fraught dynamics between father and daughter - and, ultimately, the love that underlies them.' (Publication summary)

'The first full-length history of rock journalism in Australia

'For over fifty years, Australia has maintained its own rock press - a vibrant, passionate, sometimes volatile industry of dozens of papers and magazines committed to the coverage of the country's robust music scene.

'From the glossy and glamorous to the punk and pernicious, these publications were the medium that brought Australian music culture to international attention and launched the careers of countless musicians, as well as writers, editors and photographers. Go-Set started it all; Rolling Stone Australia, RAM and Juke defined their eras; music newspapers like Beat and Inpress brought indie music to the streets; and sites like Mess+Noise, Tone Deaf and Junkee harnessed the digital age.

'Drawing on comprehensive research and dozens of interviews with key figures such as Molly Meldrum, Phillip Frazer and Lily Brett, journalist Samuel Fell captures the vibrancy of music journalism in Australia with colourful anecdotes and surprising stories. Full Coverage is the tale of how the Australian rock press was born, grew and evolved to become an integral part of Australian culture.' (Publication summary)

'Time of Our Lives presents the extraordinary lives of ordinary women in their seventies, eighties and nineties, challenging the stereotype of the helpless old woman who is nothing more than a burden.

'This collection demonstrates the rich lives led by 20 women of diverse backgrounds, all born before 1946 and all of whom have achieved great things in older age. Mig Dann worked for David Bowie and gained a PhD in her eighties. Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann AM, the first Indigenous schoolteacher in the Northern Territory, is showing young people about culture and community. Olive Trevor’s love of plants led her to become a world expert in bromeliads. From Robina Rogan, a boat-builder planning a voyage at age 82, to Rosemary Salvaris, a 76-year-old civil celebrant who’s taken up orienteering, these women show that learning has no age limit.

'As the generation of Australian women who waved the flag for feminism enter retirement, let’s change the conversation around what it means to be ‘old’. Our ageing population is not a burden – it’s time to celebrate the contributions that older women make to our community.' (Publication summary)

'If asked to name an Australian woman scientist from the past, very few could. Let’s change that.

'Histories of Australian science largely overlook women. Their absence gives the impression that, until recently, there were no Australian women scientists. But this is far from true: women formed a much larger proportion of the scientific community from the 1900s to the 1940s in Australia than in Britain or the United States, and numbers have only grown since. Why don’t women scientists make it into history books? Because women’s work is less cited than men’s and more likely to be forgotten.

'Taking to the Field is the first comprehensive history of Australian women in science from the colonial period to contemporary times. This untold story shows that women have played a greater role than is commonly recognised. From the first years of colonisation, women engaged in myriad scientific endeavours, ranging from botany to genetics to organic chemistry. There was a vibrant culture of women in science in the years up to 1945 – as academics, researchers, lab workers, teachers, writers and activists for science-based social reform. They outnumbered men in some fields.

'This is not a straightforward tale of progress or a simple celebration of unsung heroines. Some women were involved in darker episodes of colonial science and eugenics. Few women of colour were given opportunities for scientific exploration. But within these limitations, many remarkable individuals illuminated our understanding of the world. From the first female science graduate, Edith Dornwell, to Nobel laureate molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, Australian women have had an outsized influence. The botanical collection of Western Australian Georgina Molloy, the discoveries of Tasmanian-born molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn and the research of Melbourne zoologist Georgina Sweet all tell a story: how Australian women in science have transformed the world.' (Publication summary)

'‘The thought began to form in my mind that many people would have a powerful story to tell about a turning point that led to them finding their purpose — their passion.’

'When historian Mary Ryllis Clark came across her copy of Austrian philosopher and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl’s A Man’s Search for Meaning , she was struck by the idea that ‘the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose’. This propelled her on a journey to seek out and interview those individuals whose stories had inspired her.

'Historian Henry Reynolds could not keep silent about the racial injustice he witnessed in Australian life, and it changed the course of his career. Whistleblower Andrew Wilkie made the brave decision to tell the truth about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Actor Jack Charles ’s discovery of the Malumani healing program, developed by a fellow survivor of the Stolen Generation, set him on a path of self-discovery. Anthony Bartl , who has no use of his limbs, was not expected to survive after a terrible accident, yet he has travelled widely and is an inspiration to people living with a disability.

'From Julie Spriggs , who became the seventh physiotherapist working in Ethiopia, treating tuberculosis, to Gia-Yen Luong , the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who is committed to raising the standard of education in state schools in Australia, the 25 individuals in this collection all share a moment that changed the course of their future, sparking them to live a life of passion and purpose — and in turn enriching the lives of others.' (Publication summary)

With a foreword by Brenda Niall, this collection brings to life stories of triumph and tragedy, hope and survival. Other contributors include Robyn Davidson , Gillian Triggs , Inala Cooper , Anna Funder , Peter Doherty , Allan Fels , Fiona Patten and Elizabeth Chong .

'Acclaimed filmmaker John Darling lived in Bali through the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, he created the films that established him as the leading foreign filmmaker of Indonesia. This included Lempad of Bali , which celebrated the life and times of the astonishing Balinese artist Gusti Nyoman Lempad. Today, Darling is often remembered for his documentary The Healing of Bali , made in the immediate aftermath of the October 2002 bombing in Kuta and described in The Sydney Morning Herald as a ‘masterpiece’.

'This collection of essays is a multifaceted portrayal of Darling’s years in Bali, revealing the cultural experiences that shaped him. Transcending conventional biography, it contains essays in his honour, paired with his poetry and photographs, as well as critical essays on his work and personal reminiscences of his life from Balinese and Australian expatriates. It is a book for fans of John’s work as well as the new generation of filmmakers he inspired, and those with an interest in Balinese culture and Bali’s cosmopolitan expatriate scene in the 1970s and 1980s.' (Publication summary)

'Part way through the Jerilderie Letter, Ned Kelly accused Senior Constable Anthony Strahan of threatening him: 'he would not ask me to stand he would shoot me first like a dog'. Those few fateful words have echoed through Australian history as the cause of much bloodshed and violence. They marked Anthony forever and ushered in a national myth: the legend of the Kelly Gang.

'Two days after Anthony allegedly made this threat, Ned and his gang shot dead several police in an act of brutality that became known as the Stringybark Creek killings. Ned's reason for opening fire? He said he had mistaken one cop for Strahan.

'Lachlan Strahan, Anthony's great-great-grandson, grew up with the familiar story of Ned Kelly, the egalitarian rebel, and his ancestor as the villainous cop who had threatened him. Yet as he began to probe into Anthony's life, he discovered that the truth — and the Kelly legend it has given rise to — was more complex than he believed. Anthony Strahan was a boy from County Kildare who joined the Victoria Police and embodied the thin blue line of law and order in the bush for nearly thirty-five years. He was also possessed of a fiery temper and a desire for justice, and was a major player in the hunt for Ned Kelly, though never recognised for it. Did he utter those incendiary words about Ned? Whose version of history do we believe?

'This is a tale about law enforcement — about justice and retribution, character and morality. It is also about making a life against the odds in a wild frontier society, race relations, intergenerational shame and anger. Readers will learn more about the Kelly Gang, the Wooragee Outrage, Saucy Jack, a game called Swindle, the Pender Affair and many other criminals, some petty and some villainous. They will strap in for a damn good ride.' (Publication summary)

'The death of a bird haunts the relationship between two siblings. A lonely narrator waits for a bus that never comes. A boy makes soup with his grandmother and wonders about the memories she has buried.

'For the sixteenth edition of Verge, we asked contributors to reflect on the theme of Home, a word that took on a new meaning after a year of solitude and separation. We chose this theme because we hoped to read about homes of all kinds: unhomely homes, abandoned homes, unlikely homes, forgotten homes, found homes. And we were awed by the beauty, depth and variety in the pieces we received. Our writers explored homes of past, present and future; they probed the bleakness of domesticity and mourned the loss of what was once held close. They wrote about familial ties and found communities, about the painfulness of childhood and the bonds of ancestry. Writing, indeed, to make a home in.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'At the height of the Victorian gold rush, between July 1852 and June 1853, hundreds of government-assisted migrants from Lancashire, England, made their way to Australia and disembarked in Victoria. They were part of a huge flood of such migrants who were poured into the new-born colony as the colonial administration scrabbled to cope with the gold rush.

'The scheme was an unprecedented achievement in government-organised migration. Yet most historians have tended to dismiss these assisted migrants as the unskilled poorest-of-the-poor, and not of the same calibre as the working-class and middle-class unassisted migrants also arriving at the colony in great numbers.

'Made in Lancashire is a collective biography that explores in detail who the Lancashire assisted migrants were, their origins, why they migrated, where they went on arrival in Victoria, and what they made of their lives. Far from being the dross of England, these migrants were intelligent, highly motivated risktakers, many of whom went on to experience success as gold diggers, selectors, tradespeople and entrepreneurs.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Autobiography or fiction? This question has shadowed the work of enigmatic Australian author Eve Langley since her death in 1974. Was her writing the truth, or false, or somewhere in between? What did it mean when she described her father as ‘evil’ and ‘perverted’ in her first published novel The Pea Pickers (1942) and a kindly figure in later, unpublished work? Did she really believe herself to be Oscar Wilde? Was she gender fluid? Eve and her sister (and co-conspirator) June held onto family secrets as if their very lives depended on it. Eve Langley has been in the news since the 1920s and reviewed on both sides of the globe. She was an author, a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter and a long-term psychiatric inmate. But June, who traversed the Australian countryside dressed as a boy, a willing lifelong companion to her beloved sister, is a lonely anonymous figure. Drawing on contemporary evidence, Eve Langley and the Pea Pickers gives the key players in the author’s life a voice, and the result is a fascinating but ultimately poignant tale of love and loss.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The story of the 'Dunera Boys' is an intrinsic part of the history of Australia in the Second World War and in its aftermath. The injustice these 2000 men suffered through British internment in camps at Hay, Tatura and Orange is well known. Less familiar is the tale of what happened to them afterwards. Following on from volume one Dunera Lives: A Visual History (2018), Dunera Lives: Profiles continues the saga in life stories.

'This second volume of Dunera Lives presents the voices, faces, and lives of 20 people, who, together with nearly 3000 other internees from Britain and Singapore, landed in Australia in 1940. All over the world there were Dunera lives, those of men and women who passed through the upheavals of the Second World War and survived to tell the tale. Here are some of their stories.

'A contribution to the history of Australia, to the history of migrants and migration, and to the history of human rights, these two volumes put in the public domain a story whose full dimensions and complexity have never been described.' (Publication summary)

'In 2013 Cathy McGowan became the first female independent to sit on the crossbench, where she would represent the Victorian rural electorate of Indi for six years. Winning the seat of Indi, after the Coalition had held the seat for 82 years, was a watershed moment. Indi became ‘Exhibit A’ for future political campaigns – from Kerryn Phelps as the Member for Wentworth to Zali Steggall in Warringah.

'Doing Politics Differently tells both the story of the campaign to win Indi around the community’s kitchen tables and the subsequent realities of negotiating good policy with the major political parties.

'The book is a handbook – a ‘how-to-be-elected’ and a ‘how-to-survive’ Canberra. It is a manifesto for an alternative community-based politics told through the prism of the story we know as ‘Cathy McGowan Goes to Canberra’.

'In 2004 McGowan was made an Officer of the Order of Australia ‘for service to the community through raising awareness of and stimulating debate about issues affecting women in regional, rural and remote areas.’ McGowan was also a recipient of the Centenary Medal in 2001.' (Publication summary)

'Navigating obsessions, commemorating loved ones, cooking a meal, drinking with friends, picking at our bodies, reckoning with our choices, finding ways to connect, finding ways to exist in a world that doesn’t always accommodate us. Rituals give shape to our days and punctuate our years. It’s the large ones we remember the most, but it’s the small ones that carve out our lives for us.This year’s theme resonated with so many creative writers in all different, wonderful ways. In Verge 2020: Ritual, each contributor has picked through their lives, minds and imaginations to bring creative pieces spanning various genres and forms. Some will break your heart, while others will make you laugh. Most will do both.'

Source: publisher's blurb

'In 1946 Aboriginal people walked off pastoral stations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, withdrawing their labour from the economically-important wool industry to demand improvements in wages and conditions. Their strike lasted three years. On Red Earth Walking is the first comprehensive account of this significant, unique, and understudied episode of Australian history.

'Using extensive and previously unsourced archival evidence, Anne Scrimgeour interrogates earlier historical accounts of the strike, delving beneath the strike’s mythology to uncover the rich complexity of its history. The use of Aboriginal oral history places Aboriginal actors at the centre of these events, foregrounding their agency and their experiences. Scrimgeour provides a lucid examination of the system of colonial control that existed in the Pilbara prior to the strike, and a fascinating and detailed account of how these mechanisms were gradually broken down by three years of striker activism. Amid Cold-war fears of communist subversion in the north, the prominence of communists among southern supporters and the involvement of a non-Aboriginal activist, Don McLeod, complicated settler responses to the strike. This history raises provocative ideas around racial tensions in a pastoral settler economy, and examines political concerns that influenced settler responses to the strike, to create a nuanced and engaging account of this pivotal event in Australian Indigenous and labour histories.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Graham Berry (1822-1904) was colonial Australia’s most gifted, creative and controversial politician. A riveting speaker, a newspaper proprietor and editor, and the founder of Australia’s first mass political party, he wielded these tools to launch an age of reform: spearheading the adoption of a ‘protectionist’ economic policy, the payment of parliamentarians, and the taxing of large landowners. He also sought the reform of the Constitution, precipitating a crisis that the London Times likened to a ‘revolution’. This book recovers Berry’s forgotten and fascinating life. It explores his drives and aspirations, the scandals and defeats that nearly derailed his career, and his remarkable rise from linen-draper and grocer to adored popular leader. It establishes his formative influence on later Australian politics. And it also uses Berry’s life to reflect on the possibilities and constraints of democratic politics, hoping thereby to enrich the contemporary political imagination.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A new and radically different biography of the Australian-born archaeologist and prehistorian, Vere Gordon Childe (1892-1957). In his early life he was active in the Australian labour movement and wrote How Labour Governs (1923), the world’s first study of parliamentary socialism. At the end of the First World War he decided to pursue a life of scholarship to 'escape the fatal lure’ of politics and Australian labour’s ‘politicalism’, his term for its misguided emphasis on parliamentary representation.

'In Britain, with the publication of The Dawn of European Civilisation (1925) he began a career that would establish him as preeminent in his field and one of the most distinguished scholars of the mid-twentieth century. At the same time, his aim was to ‘democratise archaeology’, to involve people in its practice and to reveal to them What Happened in History (1942), the title of his most popular book. It sold 300,00 copies in its first 15 years. 

'Politics continued to lure him, and for forty years the security services of Britain and Australia continued to spy on him. He supported Russia’s ‘grand and hopeful experiment’ and opposed the rise of fascism. His Australian background reinforced his hatred of colonialism and imperialism. Politics was also implicated in his death. There is a direct line between Childe's early radicalism and his final - and fatal - political act in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. This is a book about the central place of socialist politics in his life, and his contribution to the theory of history that this politics entailed.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.