In this Very Short Introduction Kenneth Morgan provides a wide-ranging and thematic introduction to modern Australia. He examines the main features of its history, geography, and culture since the beginning of the white settlement in New South Wales in 1788. Drawing attention to the distinctive features of Australian life he places contemporary developments in a historical perspective, highlighting the importance of Australia's indigenous culture and making connections between Australia and the wider word. Balancing the successful growth of Australian institutions and democratic traditions, he considers the struggles that occurred in the making of modern Australia. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Kenneth Morgan is Professor of History at Brunel University, London. He has held numerous awards and fellowships. In 2006 he was a Visiting Professor in History at the University of Sydney. In 2008/9 he held the Frederick Watson Fellowship at the National Archives of Australia and a Harold White Fellowship at the National Library of Australia, Canberra. Professor Morgan is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His publications concentrate mainly on British imperial and colonial history, slavery and the slave trade, Australian history, Caribbean history, and music history.

• 1: The Antipodes
• 2: Shaping the Continent
• 3: Governing Australia
• 4: Body and Soul
• 5: Australia and the World
• Further reading