An awardwinning epic on the birth of australiain 1787, the twentyeighth year of the reign of king george iii, the british government sent a fleet to colonise australia. One of the greatest nonfiction books ive ever read. Robert hughes s the fatal shore is an epic piece of research that goes through the layers of colonial australian history by each population that made up australian colonial society. Feb 23, 2010 an awardwinning epic on the birth of australiain 1787, the twentyeighth year of the reign of king george iii, the british government sent a fleet to colonise australia. The epic of australias founding by robert hughes is a history of the birth of australia out of the suffering and brutality of britains convict. He studied art and architecture at the university of sydney. Robert hughes explores how the convict transportation system created the country we know today. Fatal shore is a thoroughly engaging and interesting account of the first ships that were sent to establish the colony and the subsequent birth of anew nation. Homosexual activity was widespread, as would be expected in a predominantly male penal system, and the descriptions. Fortunately, he has made the fatal shore the magnum opus of his maturity. An extraordinary volumeeven a masterpieceabout the early history of australia that reads like the finest of novels.
The fatal shore by robert hughes and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Explore some of robert hughes, fatal shore best quotations and sayings on such as. He died after a long illness on august 6, 2012 at the age of 74. He pursued art criticism mostly as a sideline while painting, writing poetry and serving as a cartoonist for the weekly intellectual journal the observer. With the paltry amount of popular history books i have read, im hard pressed to think of one better than hughes the fatal shore. Aug 07, 2012 author robert hughes at the launch of his book the fatal shore, at the ervin gallery at observatory hill, 1987. Documenting the brutal transportation of men, women and children out of georgian britain into a horrific penal system which was to be the precursor to the gulag and was the origin of australia, the fatal shore is the definitive, masterfully written narrative that has given its true history to australia. It was seen by more than 25 million viewers when it ran first on bbc and then on pbs. His major eightpart bbctimelife television series, the shock of the new, was the basis for his 1981 book of the same title, and he is also the author of several earlier books. Robert hughes has been art critic for time magazine since 1970. Mather award for distinguished criticism, is author of the shock of the new, and of heaven and hell in western art, both written before the present work. Harry williams, huey long robert caro, the power broker john wooden, my personal best david halberstam, the coldest winter gerde weissman klein, all but my life edward dolnick, down the great unknown stephen ambrose, undaunted courage walter isaacson, steve jobs david axelrod, believer ashley vance, ellon musk. See all books authored by robert hughes, including the fatal shore.
And if the staggering achievement that is the fatal shore is anything to go by, thats exactly what happened. The epic of australias founding by robert hughes is a history of the birth of australia out of the suffering and brutality of britains convict transportation system. By now his sense of historical scale is sound, as for this task it needed to be. Digging deep into the dark history of englands infamous efforts to move 160,000 men and women thousands of miles to the other side of the world in the eighteenth and nineteenth. In robert hughes the fatal shore the reader is given the incredibly detailed history of a nation and people that was often not taught to its own schoolchildren as the past has long been considered a source of shame. A massive, agglomerative history of the convict deportation system that peopled australia. Dec 12, 1986 with the paltry amount of popular history books i have read, im hard pressed to think of one better than hughes the fatal shore. Robert hughes books list of books by author robert hughes. Hughess fatal shore unfairly shows early australia as a gulag.
Hughes, who was known for books such as the fatal shore and shock of. The epic of australias founding, and the shock of the new, and more on. They were redeemed by their arrival and their tread sanctified the earth. The legendary texas coach led the longhorns to three national. The fatal shore quotes showing 110 of 10 but cruelty is an appetite that grows with feeding. The fatal shore is thus not a perfect book, but still a good one. A critical survey 1966 and heaven and hell in western art 1968.
Ive known about the book for a long time but never bothered to look it up in the library. What are some quotes from the fatal shore by robert hughes. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included. Influential australian art critic and writer robert hughes has died in new york aged 74. The largest difference between both nations, as conveyed by robert hughes in the fatal shore, an authoritative and engrossing record, is that in america the european adam and eve arrived by choice. The fatal shore by robert hughes, 1988, pan books edition, in english. Read the fatal shore pdf the epic of australias founding by robert hughes vintage books in this bestselling account of the colonization of australia, robert hughes explores how the convict. Documenting the brutal transportation of men, women and children out of georgian britain into a horrific penal system which was to be the precursor to the gulag and was the origin of australia, the fatal shore is the. Robert lindsay hughes born 19 august 1948 in sydney, new south wales is an australian former actor, voice actor, and musician, whose most significant roles include abba. Publication date 1988 publisher pan books collection.
Robert studley forrest hughes ao 28 july 1938 in sydney, new south wales, australia 6 august 2012 in the bronx, new york, u. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. The fatal shore robert hughes pdf the epic of australias. The history of the birth of australia which came out of the suffering and brutality of englands infamous convict transportation system. History can be quite a subjective subject at times but this book has my thumbs up if you want to know a bit more about our past and perhaps why the aussies are a tough bunch at times. The book is hughes masterpiece and retains that reputation on rereading. Oct 22, 2012 on the day that barry diller and tina brown announced the death of newsweek the print magazine, a memorial service for bob hughes took place at the metropolitan museum of art in new york.
Fatal shore is a sweeping, eloquent, argumentative, magisterial, compelling account of the settling of white australia, written by one of the worlds more prickly and rambunctious australians. The reader, like the convicts of the time, is transported to this land. Robert hughes better known to many as a respected art writer tackles australias early history in the fatal shore. Robert hughes, art critic of time magazine and twice winner of the american college art associations f. The fatal shore a history of the transportation of. In 1970 he moved to the united states to become chief art critic for time, a position he held until 2001. The fatal shore by robert hughes overdrive rakuten. What hughes has done here is, in lavish detail and in a humane voice, given us the bizarre and violent tale of the founding of a remote british penal colony. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Buy the fatal shore by robert hughes from waterstones today. Author of the fatal shore, american visions, culture of complaint, the fatal shore, nothing if not critical, goya, barcelona, the shock of the new robert hughes. The fatal shore delivers precisely what the subtitle promises. Hughes has a story to tell as vivid, largescale, and appalling as anything by dickens or solzhenitsyn, but one thats virtually unknown until the writing of this splendid book. Art critic robert hughes reflects on his near fatal car crash and what impelled him to film the documentary australia. Fatal shore is a sweeping, eloquent, argumentative, magisterial, compelling account of the settling of white. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. Robert hughess the fatal shore is an epic piece of research that goes through the layers of colonial australian history by each population that made up australian colonial society. The elephant in the room in this essay is the absence of any reassessment of hughes most famous book, the fatal shore. It could be argued that the australianborn robert hughes had to move to america where, for many years, he served as times art critic in order to rediscover his home country and write about it with open eyes. The fatal shore by hughes, robert, 1938publication date 1987 topics exiles, penal colonies.
In this bestselling account of the colonization of australia, robert hughes explores how the. Hughes might have attempted this book in his youth, and got the story out of proportion, even if he had not skimped it. Being australian, it is difficult to view this impartially, but its a refreshing break from the often misguided painting of early migrants. Possible ex library copy, thatll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. The transportation of english convicts to australia began in 1788 and continued for around 80 years. The fatal shore is the prizewinning, scholarly, brilliantly entertaining narrative that has given its true history to australia. Portland trail blazers great bill walton revealed his book list. I have a much better understanding of australian convict history now than i did from school in particular, the fact that its a very small part of our history.
The fatal shore, robert hughes shop online for books in. The fatal shore by hughes robert, first edition abebooks. This history is nonetheless commendable, synthesizing scholarship and primary sources into a comprehensive, readable. Walton included books written by john wooden, his former ucla coach, and by. His best seller the fatal shore 1986 is a study of the british penal colonies and early history of australia. The fatal shore by robert hughes 9780099448549 booktopia. In 1970, he moved to the united states to become chief art critic for time, a position he held until 2001. The fatal shore by hughes, robert and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. What hughes has done here is, in lavish detail and in a humane voice, given us the bizarre and violent tale of. The fatal shore by robert hughes penguin books new zealand. The fatal shore is a great achievement susan sontag. Robert hughes set out to retell australias history.
Robert hughes in new york, where he lived and wrote for time magazine from 1970. Robert hughes the fatal shore 1986 is a highly regarded and very detailed study of the transportation system. Buy a discounted paperback of the fatal shore online from australias leading online bookstore. At the save the children book fair, must be 18 months ago now, i found it. It also addresses the historical, political and sociological reasons that led to british settlement. Download and read online for free the fatal shore by robert hughes.
The fatal shore by robert hughes penguin books australia. The fatal shore by robert hughes in djvu, doc, txt download e book. Substantial excerpts are included in the new anthology, including an extract from the key central chapter, the geographical unconscious. This history is nonetheless commendable, synthesizing scholarship and primary sources into a comprehensive, readable account. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. The fatal shore a history of the transportation of convicts to australia, 1787 1869 hardcover 1998 by robert hughes author. His books include the shock of the new, the fatal shore. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Robert hughess the fatal shore is an epic piece of research that goes through the layers of colonial australian history by each population that made up. Bill waltons book list revealed basketball legends favorite 70 all. Beginning with a survey of life for the georgian workingclass, its unemployment, its treatment by the law and what can only sarcastically be described as justice, robert hughes continues with his history of the eighty years of transportation. Anyone who has read one of hughess accounts of art his metier has surely developed a strong opinion of his style.
His books include the shock of the new, the fatal shore, more about robert hughes. When it was first published, australia was in preparations for its 1988 cook bicentenary, and a number of historical retrospectives entered print. The risks taken to begin white settlement were beyond comprehension perhaps like a decision today to colonize another planet. The history of the birth of australia which came out of the suffer. His books include the shock of the new, the fatal shore, nothing if not critical, the culture of complaint, barcelona, goya, things i.
In 1787, the twentyeighth year of the reign of king george iii, the british government sent a fleet to colonize australia. The punishment books of both these penal hells are full of weird dickensian items. Buy the fatal shore a history of the transportation of convicts to australia, 1787 1869 folio soc. An epic description of the brutal transportation of men, women and children out of georgian britain into a horrific penal system which was to be the precursor to the gulag and was the origin of australia. The fatal shore is a mustread for those who think the english have ever been a civilised nation. You will come away with a great understanding of how each groupcommon criminals, political prisoners, military officers on the outs, profit seekers, aborigines. About the author robert hughes, art critic of time magazine and twice winner of the american college art associations f. He also wrote a book by the same name about the series.
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