Australian People Make

Australian History

Australia is still close enough to its pioneering past—and in some parts, close also to a pioneering present—to make any comprehensive account of the first 170 years read a little like an adventure story.

A ND this angle Marjorie Barnard -CL has developed well in a large volume (A History of Australia) recently published. She has already distinguished herself as an historian and in this book she has managed to produce something readable as well as a work of reference—not an easy assignment in a volume that runs to 700 pages and covers this continent from discovery and settlement to the present post World War II period of expansion.

Although her treatment is over-all chronological, some subjects she treats fully and individually—such as the growth of trade, land tenure and the convict system. spedfic f^r S to th rLd e ?hem h all Tl

sitting instead of chasing stray refer ences through 700 pages, Her discussion of the convict sys tern (“The System; A Retrospect”) is an excellent summary of this early chapter of Australia’s history and it is presented in an unbiased and un emotional way, setting out what was intended in principle and what in actual fact resulted, Throughout she writes with a sense of humour and with an eye to the human-interest story and the enter twining incident—all of which are too ° . en missin 8 from history books, - ISS Barnard tak es the view that it 18 peo P le who mak e history and events, and not events that make

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