Summary

This collection of essays by John Hirst makes up a history of Australia from convict society to stalled republic. Although a self-proclaimed conservative, Hirst s work has received high praise from historians ranging from Don Watson to Stuart Macinytre. This book collects key pieces on convict society, the pioneer legend, Australian egalitarianism, the republican movement and more. It also contains celebrated critiques of Geoffrey Blainey, narrowly nationalistic history, Aboriginal policy and multiculturalism, as well as a substantial new essay on the history wars.Provocative, independent and always energetically written, Sense and Nonsense in Australian History presents the history of Australia in a fresh light.