The Fatal Shore: the Epic of Australia's Founding

I read this book after we immigrated to Australia in 1982.Even though I have been in bookselling business for 25 years,I am yet to read or be aware of any book surpassing the detailed account of Australian convict history as laid-out in this fabuloualy researched book. I have a limited version signed by Robert Hughes and I strongly recommend it to all students and readers of history and...more

I read this book after we immigrated to Australia in 1982.Even though I have been in bookselling business for 25 years,I am yet to read or be aware of any book surpassing the detailed account of Australian convict history as laid-out in this fabuloualy researched book. I have a limited version signed by Robert Hughes and I strongly recommend it to all students and readers of history and human behavioural science.   hide

Want the basics on Australia's convict past? This is required reading!

Good book if you're really interested in the founding of Australia and the penal system, but a bit on the dense side.

so awesome I kept it in my locker throughout jr high (which ,of course< got me teased)

Must have been paid by the word. Still a good read for the history of penal AU, even if it bogs you down.

A must read if you are from or are going to Australia. I started reading it before my trip and finished it on the flight over there (easy to do on a 15 hour flight). When I arrived I knew more about the history of the modern continent than my Australian friends. They were impressed. It's long and detailed, but the world Hughes recreates is both desperate and hopeful. A great read.

A great insight into our history. I really enjoyed it even though it was really long.

This for the first half is a convincing account of the settlement by English convicts to Van die Mans land.It then for some unknown reason loses its way and too the interest of the reader later in the book. Nothwithstanding the book has some value and merit to those not familiar with the subject. 2 and ahlf stars from 5

Yet another example of criminals acting to protect their interests. For the most part the sanctioned brutality against those transported to Australia far exceeded any crime most were convicted from. It's an interesting look both at the society that created it and the end results.