The Native-Born: The First White Australians

The Native-Born: The First White Australians

$34.99 AUD $12.00 AUD

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NB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition. See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only. A description of our secondhand books is not always available. Please contact us if you have a question about this title.
Author: John Molony

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 264


The story of white Australians born in this land before 1850; most were the children of convicts, had no access to land and no education, and the free settlers generally treated them as second-rate. The native-born . . . have walked constantly with me, but only as shadows. In libraries and manuscript rooms, in the faded pages of newspapers and journals, in the lectures of my colleagues or conversations with others, they have been there, but shyly, and rarely did they speak for themselves. Often I thought that they scarcely knew who they were and, if they did, whether they were allowed to know they were Australians and whether they were ever encouraged by those born elsewhere to think of themselves as Australians. This beautifully written, absorbing and thoughtful book tells the story of the first white Australians to be born in this land. Born here before 1850, most were the children of convicts. They had no access to land and no education, and the free settlers generally treated them with contempt, as second-rate citizens. John Molony was curious to discover how they thought of themselves; what it meant to them to be Australian. He draws fascinating links between their experience and atitudes and those of all children of immigrant parents; up to the present day.
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Description
NB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition. See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only. A description of our secondhand books is not always available. Please contact us if you have a question about this title.
Author: John Molony

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 264


The story of white Australians born in this land before 1850; most were the children of convicts, had no access to land and no education, and the free settlers generally treated them as second-rate. The native-born . . . have walked constantly with me, but only as shadows. In libraries and manuscript rooms, in the faded pages of newspapers and journals, in the lectures of my colleagues or conversations with others, they have been there, but shyly, and rarely did they speak for themselves. Often I thought that they scarcely knew who they were and, if they did, whether they were allowed to know they were Australians and whether they were ever encouraged by those born elsewhere to think of themselves as Australians. This beautifully written, absorbing and thoughtful book tells the story of the first white Australians to be born in this land. Born here before 1850, most were the children of convicts. They had no access to land and no education, and the free settlers generally treated them with contempt, as second-rate citizens. John Molony was curious to discover how they thought of themselves; what it meant to them to be Australian. He draws fascinating links between their experience and atitudes and those of all children of immigrant parents; up to the present day.