Publisher's synopsis
The publication of this book in 1981 profoundly changed the way in which we understand the history of relations between Indigenous Australians and European settlers. It has since become a classic of Australian history. Drawing from documentary and oral evidence, the book describes in meticulous and compelling detail the ways in which Aboriginal Australians responded to the arrival of Europeans. Henry Reynolds’ argument that Indigenous people resisted fiercely was highly original when it was first published and is no less challenging today.
Henry Reynolds is the author of fourteen books, including An Indelible Stain?, The Other Side of the Frontier, Black Pioneers, Fate of a Free People, This Whispering in Our Hearts and the award-winning Why Weren’t We Told? Born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1938, Henry taught in secondary schools in Australia and England after receiving a Master of Arts from the University of Tasmania, and for many years was on the teaching staff in the history department of James Cook University in Townsville. He is currently Research Professor at the University of Tasmania and is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Senior Research Fellowship.