{"title":"Grace Karskens","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the captivating works of Grace Karskens, a distinguished author renowned for her insightful contributions to the realm of Australian history. Through meticulous research and engaging prose, Karskens brings to life the rich tapestry of Australia's past, offering readers a deep dive into the nation's formative years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong her acclaimed works, \u003cem\u003ePeople of the River\u003c\/em\u003e stands out as a remarkable exploration of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and its pivotal role in the early interactions between Aboriginal and settler communities. This book intricately weaves the diverse stories of those who lived along its banks, reflecting on the complex relationships and enduring legacy of this vibrant region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Colony\u003c\/em\u003e, Karskens delivers a comprehensive narrative on the history of Sydney, detailing its transformation from a fledgling settlement to a thriving metropolis. With a keen eye for detail and a profound understanding of historical context, she paints a vivid picture of the challenges and triumphs faced by the city's early inhabitants, providing valuable insights into the cultural and social dynamics that shaped modern Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrace Karskens' works are essential reading for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of Australia's past and its lasting impact on the present. Her books not only inform but also inspire a deeper appreciation for the diverse narratives that comprise Australia's rich heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"people-of-the-river-by-grace-karskens-9781760292232","title":"People of the River","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner of the Prime Minister's Award for Australian History 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner of the NSW Premier's Australian History Prize 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCo-winner of the Ernest Scott Prize for History 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner, Henry A. Wallace Award for Agricultural History 2020\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A masterpiece of historical writing that takes your breath away' - \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTom Griffiths\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A majestic book' - \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Maynard\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Shimmering prose' - \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTiffany Shellam\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDyarubbin, the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, is where the two early Australias - ancient and modern - first collided. \u003cem\u003ePeople of the River\u003c\/em\u003e journeys into the lost worlds of the Aboriginal people and the settlers of Dyarubbin, both complex worlds with ancient roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe settlers who took land on the river from the mid-1790s were there because of an extraordinary experiment devised half a world away. Modern Australia was not founded as a gaol, as we usually suppose, but as a colony. Britain's felons, transported to the other side of the world, were meant to become settlers in the new colony. They made history on the river: it was the first successful white farming frontier, a community that nurtured the earliest expressions of patriotism, and it became the last bastion of eighteenth-century ways of life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Aboriginal people had occupied Dyarubbin for at least 50,000 years. Their history, culture and spirituality were inseparable from this river Country. Colonisation kicked off a slow and cumulative process of violence, theft of Aboriginal children and ongoing annexation of the river lands. Yet despite that sorry history, Dyarubbin's Aboriginal people managed to remain on their Country, and they still live on the river today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Hawkesbury-Nepean was the seedbed for settler expansion and invasion of Aboriginal lands to the north, south and west. It was the crucible of the colony, and the nation that followed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46849668612332,"sku":"9781760292232","price":55.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20309263482814.jpg?v=1759059566"},{"product_id":"the-colony-by-grace-karskens-9781742373645","title":"The Colony","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Colony\u003c\/em\u003e is the story of the marvellously contrary, endlessly energetic early years of Sydney. It is an intimate account of the transformation of a campsite in a beautiful cove to the town that later became Australia's largest and best-known city.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the sparkling beaches to the foothills of the Blue Mountains, Grace Karskens skilfully reveals how landscape shaped the lives of the original Aboriginal inhabitants and newcomers alike. She traces the ways in which relationships between the colonial authorities and ordinary men and women broke with old patterns, and the ways that settler and Aboriginal histories became entwined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShe uncovers the ties between the burgeoning township and its rural hinterland expanding along the river systems of the Cumberland Plain. This is a landmark account of the birthplace of modern Australia, and a fascinating and richly textured narrative of people and place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46850013233388,"sku":"9781742373645","price":55.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9638133482808.jpg?v=1759074997"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/grace-karskens.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}