Saturday, July 30, 2011

Evergrowing Mt TBR - Australia History

Just a few more titles to add to the every growing "Mount To Be Read":

Mary Reiby: From Convict To First Lady Of Trade by Kathleen J. Pullen
"Mary Reibey is the woman on the Australian $20 note. She gained this honour because she was Australia’s first lady of trade. This is her moving biography, a tale of love and triumph. Mary came to Australia as a convict in a lice-infested ship at the tender age of 14. She seemed doomed to a life in the filthy Botany Bay prison colony, until she caught the eye of one of the ship’s Lieutenants. The union of the two saw them rise to the top of the commercial ladder. Find out how Mary became one of Australia’s first female tycoons, head of a vast trading business and a tireless fighter against oppression and exploitation. This is a rich and authentic portrait of a woman in early colonial times."

The Diaries of Ethel Turner by Philippa Poole
"Ethel Turner was the author of some of Australia's bestselling children's novels including Seven Little Australians. This book features an intimate collection of her diaries from 1889 to 1930. Shining a spotlight on this literary icon, it presents Ethel’s reflections on Sydney's literary and social scene, her marriage and motherhood, the war years, and the tragic loss of her daughter."

Miles Franklin - Her Brilliant Career by Colin Roderick
"Few people can be compared to Miles Franklin. Genius writer, feminist and years ahead of her era, she is best known for her book My Brilliant Career and her establishment of the prestigious Miles Franklin Award for Literature. Miles Franklin was born in 1879 in country Australia. Determined to make her mark at a time when women were repressed, she wrote novels, as well as several non fiction books and articles. Colin Roderick, a confidante of Miles, presents an in-depth biography. He reveals Miles as a woman often uncertain about her place in the world, maintaining her feminism while indulging in the attention of suitors and counting Norman Lindsay, Henry Lawson and J.K. Moir among her peers."

Females On The Fatal Shore by Susanna De Vries
"Follow the stories of 12 fearless women who inhabited Australia during its young years in Females On The Fatal Shore. Many of these incredible women had ideals far ahead of the constraints of their time period. For example, Fanny Macleay lacked a dowry and she lived in a time where marriage was a priority for women. Her mother encouraged her to marry “up”, but the witty and artistic Fanny had her own life plan. Discover the fascinating females behind some of Australia’s heritage houses and even the currency, like Mary Reibey, the woman on the Australian $20 note. Some of these stories mention places that are in existence today which adds extra interest to the tales of these strong women."

The Floating Brothel by Sian Rees
"Repackaged as a new edition, this critically acclaimed Australian bestseller recreates the riveting story of 200 female convicts bound for Botany Bay. The Lady Julian was described as a “floating brothel” by Lieutenant Riou, commander of the HMS Guardian, but the reality was more complex and interesting. In this book, author Siân Rees combines meticulous research with a vibrant narrative to tell the story of this late 18th century sea voyage to the colony of New South Wales. She also reveals the fate of many of Lady Julian’s ladies and crew.  Described by the Sunday Age as “thoroughly entertaining popular history”, The Floating Brothel is a passionate, diligently researched account."

No comments: