Australia Books

Award winning Eileen Campbell from Melbourne Victoria (in S.E. Australia) takes us on a journey of wonder as she describes how the projects in her book were constructed. Garments, children's clothes, wallhangings and more with a unique Aussie flavor are depicted along with inspiring yet very detailed instructions. A must have book for any quilter who enjoys machine applique work or has wanted to try it. Eileen's work is exquisite.

This is book is an exploration of the prehistory of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia - and peoples they are, not just one homogeneous race that the name Aborigines seems to suggest. There is even a suggestion that there may be mixtures of robust and gracile forms of early humankind in their makeup - perhaps uniquely of all races.

The whole issue of human development, of arising consciousness, is one that fascinates me. I keep thinking of the strange hypnogogic and hypnopompic experiences I sometimes encounter and I wonder if in the dreamtime - in humankind's early beginnings - these shadowy forms of consciousness were all that early people experienced.

Josephine Flood explores the mysteries of Aboriginal peoples - such as how they could have so early in human history have reached so far south (such as at Lake Mungo). Compared to the colonisation of the American continent, the colonistaion of Australia is so much earlier and yet the continent is certainly not an immediately appealing destination. And then there is the mystery of why the isolated Tasmanian Aboriginals quite suddenly stopped eating fish and seafood.

Not all these explorations are encouraged by the modern Aboriginal people and yet I am sure that a true understanding of their uniqueness will return some respect to Aboriginals for being just that - Aboriginals - rather than trying to massage them into some creditable position in what is largely an alien society.

This is a wonderful story of discovery, of posing mysteries and suggesting possibilities.

The author served along the British general in command of the Royal Marines Brigade in the Malvinas and later wrote Nine Battles to Stanley (published in 1999) that studied the ground war in much greater detail. Nicholas van der Bijl establishes that the 601st and 602nd Commando Units of the Argentine Army gave the British patrols a lot of trouble prior to the final battles. He sheds new light on the battle for Goose Green by proving that an Argentine company there was made up of tough hand-picked conscripts that had undergone Commando-training. I believe that this was the reason the Paras went through such a horrible time at Goose Green. I enjoyed this book for its colour plates and pictures of the elite RI 25. It is a good companion to his latest book Nine Battles to Stanley (click "Book Search" to find it or otherwise you will make no progress)in which he describes in great detail the ground war from the Argentine side, naming practically all the Argentine platoon commanders that saw action on Mount Harriet and Two Sisters, describing in detail the numerous Argentine platoon-sized nocturnal counterattacks that took place and which involved roughly 600 Argentine conscripts and regulars. The British commanders as his second books establishes, severely underestimated the Argentines, which resulted in higher (that could have otherwise been avoided)casualties among the British patrols and platoons that took the hills.

At first I felt awe, then dismay, at the amount of literature available on this most-studied culture, the Aborigine of Australia. The culture has been of intense interest since the ealiest days of formal ethnological and anthropological enquiry. Hiatt's book has given me a perspective into the history of scholarly enquiry that informs and conditions my reaction to the work of others. His format is subject-oriented according to his own scholarly interest in the Aborigine but is prefaced in each chapter by a review of the prejudices and aspirations of his predecessors. The book is highly readable and very stimulating. I consider it essential, at the least, to others like myself who have no formal anthropological training but who must discern and rely on the work and opinions of scholars.

Who is Rupert Murdoch and why are so many people saying such nasty things about him? For one thing, his is America's new press lord. He has accumulated power and influence far beyond anything dreamed of when he inherited a modest income and a failing newspaper in Australia.

The Kluge-Ruhe collection, housed at the University of Virginia, is among the largest and most diverse Aboriginal art collections outside of Australia. This book, the first published guide to the collection, highlights many of the important works held by the Kluge-Ruhe, covering many Aboriginal cultures and regions with a strong focus on Arnhem Land and the central desert. Thought provoking essays by many of the top scholars in the field accompany beautiful color images of many sigificant pieces. Unlike many introductions to Aboriginal art, this guide discusses themes in depth, providing solid meaningful analysis which places the art in its social context, rather than the usual 'Bark Painting of a Bird' type annotation, which provides no insight into the culture which produced it. Highly recommended--you will not be disappointed.

Perhaps best known for his creation of Animalia, Graeme Base is a prodigiously talented artist whose paintings enchant both children and adults. To celebrate a quarter century of his extraordinary talent Penguin Books Australia published this retrospective of his work. With text by children's book editor and publisher Julie Watts who has worked closely with Base we are not only treated to a magnificent collection of his art but also to insights into the life and mind of this unique artist.

Words are inadequate to describe the riotous colors and incredible detail found in Base's paintings. Watts describes his appeal well, "What I first saw as clutter is actually the hallmark of Graeme's work. The crowded design is one of the things children like most, because it gives them so much to do, so much to search for. The amazing imaginative worlds portrayed, each teeming with life, give children so much to discover for themselves." And so much for all ages to search for and discover I might add.

What a pleasure to have many of his pieces in one lavish 244 page volume with 400 full-color illustrations, 400 reasons to return to this book again and again.

- Gail Cooke

This book Arthur Boyd At Bundanon sent me off on a wonderful journey of discovery. Although I had been aware of and admired the art of Arthur Boyd, the celebrated Australian artist, I did not have much idea of him as a person. This book by Janet Mckenzie, is very well researched, and is one of those books which stand up to several revisitings, over several years. The story it reveals, of a truly extraordinary man, an artist with an amazing insight into the modern world, and a passionate love of his homeland, Australia, is skilfully told. Arthur Boyd towards the end of his life decided to gift his most most beloved property, home and studio, named Bundanon, to the Australian people. The purpose he had in mind was to provide an artist's haven. This beautiful place in Australia, beside the Shoalhaven River, has been a huge source of inspiration not only to Arthur Boyd, but also to many other noted Australian artists. As well as the insight into the creative mind and soul of Arthur Boyd that the text of this book so sensitively and respectfully gives, there are a number of very wonderful reproductions of many of Arthur Boyd's paintings. These are well chosen and placed, and not surprisingly comprise the heart of the book.

Its laminated, organized, colorful, terrific. The price is right. It is easy to read. This map will fit in purse,pocket, carryon or suitcase. Its a keeper. You will probably leave all your other maps in the hotel room while in Sydey as this is the one you will want. And it has written on the pages all the places you will want to go to complete with a discription and review. You gotta have it, I'm glad I got it. Enjoy!

A book of recollections of Australian (and a couple of others) vertrans of the Vietnam War. This book has tales covering everything about the Vietnam War, from the feelings before leaving home, to fighting in the jungle, to returning home after a tour of duty.

Emotional, educational and depressingly realistic. The memories here will make you laugh and most certainly make you cry.

A must for all history buffs, and for anyone with a desire to gain an insight to the events in Vietnam.