An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

121. Australia Before Cook

November 18, 2021

Description

"Discovered this territory, 1770". So reads the inscription on a statue of Captain Cook in Hyde Park, Sydney. But did he really discover it? Tom and Dominic are joined by David Hunt to explore the...
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Books Referenced

Gert, the Unauthorised History of Australia

Author: David Hunt

Context:

Mentioned in the introduction when the hosts describe guest David Hunt's books about Australian history

True Gert

Author: David Hunt

Context:

Mentioned in the introduction as one of David Hunt's three histories of Australia

Gert Nation

Author: David Hunt

Context:

Mentioned in the introduction as one of David Hunt's three histories of Australia

Lady Bird book of Captain Cook

Author: Various (Ladybird Books)

Context:

Referenced when discussing how Captain Cook was taught in British schools, as a measure of his fame in English history

The Future Eaters

Author: Tim Flannery

Context:

Described as 'a wonderful book' when discussing the blitzkrieg theory of megafaunal extinction in Australia - the theory that humans arriving in Australia led to the extinction of megafauna

1421: The Year China Discovered the World

Author: Gavin Menzies

Context:

Discussed when debunking the theory that Chinese treasure fleets discovered Australia in the 1420s; the book's claims were described as 'junk history'