Reviewed by Ian Lipke In the annals of non-fiction writing the name of Edmund Goldrick makes scarcely a ripple. As of the 30th July, that will change, for on that day, Hachette Australia will publish Goldrick’s ANZAC Guerrillas, a World War II story of resistance, hope and humanity in Occupied Europe. This academic work tells
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders The area occupied by Turkey (Türkiye since 2022) has a very long human history. Palaeolithic cave dwellers were succeeded by settlements that are some of the oldest in the world – around 12,000 years. As part of the ancient fertile crescent, the area gave rise to a succession of great civilisations
Reviewed by Ian Hamilton One imagines that the work of historians has at least two dimensions: the first dimension being to understand past events, including their causality (if that can be determined or surmised) and significance. The second dimension is to examine how that past has influenced – even shaped – our present world and
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Black Inc’s latest title in the “Shortest History” series heads for France and its fascinating story. Colin Jones, who has authored several titles on different aspects of French history, has been given the brief to bring this survey to life while at the same time keeping it within the framework as
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Most of us have grown up with the idea that the Antarctic is a relatively untouched land of ice, mountains and penguins. It seems unthinkable that we should exploit it for mining or oil or whales. Yet through the 19th and most of the 20th centuries, Australia saw Antarctica as a
Reviewed by Richard Tutin When someone wishes to pursue a momentous project at all costs they are often regarded as being obsessive. If they manage to complete it well, they are then called visionary. Such is the situation with Charles Todd whose greatest achievement was the completion of the Overland Telegraph in 1872. David Dufty
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Some people, especially politicians, sincerely believe that they are kingmakers. They think that they can influence the political situation to not only place their person of interest in the top position but also to gain favours that will enhance their prestige and public image. Those folk often fail because they do
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Readers might be forgiven for wondering what Charles Glass was thinking of when he named his book Soldiers Don’t Go Mad. However, clarification is not needed for readers familiar with Siegfried Sassoon’s works, readers who would recognize the poet’s and it’s been proved that soldiers don’t go mad unless they lose
Reviewed by E.B. Heath Money, like faith, is a product of the human imagination. David McWilliams In his latest book, Money, David McWilliams advances the theory that the invention of money and consequent financial innovations have caused technological and social progress. He guides readers from the Ishango Bone to cryptocurrency, to make his point that
Reviewed by Ian Lipke No doubt every reviewer in the land has commented on the unusual spelling of the word ‘ascendency’. I would ask that MUP check the spelling. This book is essentially a collection of papers written by experts in various aspects of Robert Menzies’s life and career. Each chapter breathes authenticity so that
Reviewed by Richard Tutin How often have we thought that it would be great to go on an adventure? In asking this question I refer to the desire to travel to far flung places where few have gone before us. We could say that there aren’t many places left in the world where this can
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Religious communities are often the least understood part of the Christian faith. Usually found in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Churches these communities of women and men live and work together under a rule of life. Some are enclosed while others are regarded as active. The Order of the Blessed
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve This impressive and very readable version of the life of Henry V, one of England’s most celebrated monarchs, portrays a young man far from the rollicking, pleasure seeking Prince of Shakespeare’s plays. Dan Jones’s king is a fine leader, cool in his victories, and deeply religious. Upon his triumphant parade through
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Many of the names given to Australian places and topography after colonisation were those of English people. Today many of these are being replaced by their Aboriginal name. So, what is the story behind the non-English name Kosciuszko given to Australia’s highest peak? Anthony Sharwood, a Walkley award-winning journalist, has now
Reviewed by Richard Tutin The word “myth” has two meanings. One is that it is a sacred story that tells the origin of something while the other is a story that isn’t quite true even though it may have been based on fact. In exploring Australian war myths, Mark Dapin seems to hover between both