Island Nation: A History of Australians and the Sea by Frank Broeze

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges.

An alternative history of Australia written in a lively and accessible style and exploring the crucial role of the sea in shaping our national identity. The story of the Australian people is a story of the interaction of land, cities and the sea. Land and cities have received ample attention but the role of the sea as an integral part of our national experience has remained largely unexplored.

Island Nation traces the sea's profound, diverse and all-embracing influence on Australian society - an influence that extends far beyond the coastline. Three significant issues emerge in this story of the interaction of people and the sea: controlling sea space, taming distance, and living with the sea.

In exploring these issues in all their diversity, Island Nation ranges widely, encompassing the birth of an Australian 'Monroe Doctrine', the development of unique economic and political institutions, the role of surfing and the growth of tourism, the impact of the sea on Australian art, 'ships of shame' and very much else besides. (back cover)