Book Description
The sun shows up here first for a reason. Come for bracing light or caverns underground, glacial valleys or black volcanic sand. Tour every landscape on earth, all rolled into one country. Dig for pipis on the beach, or sample oysters on a platter. Savour solitude with a view, or city culture. Things are never just black and white in New Zealand. STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE - taste the freshest seafood, world-class wines, or the best lamb roast there is ROLL YOUR EYES - yet another magnificent view of mystical mountains, braided river plains or calming coastlines SLAP YOUR THIGHS - a good time's easy to find, from happening Auckland to waterfront Wellington STAND UP PROUD - and experience Maori culture firsthand: take part in a powhiri, or fill your puku at a hangi RUN AT IT SHOUTING - bungy jump, sea kayak, surf, trek and hit the white water with the best of them
Customer Reviews:
Good travel guide.......2007-05-18
So far what I've read the book has a wealth of travel info.
NZ Tour Guide.......2007-05-13
NZ definition of luxury is different from USA definition. Stayed in Victorian Hotel in Rotorua that got rave review in this book, the room we had was very ordinary and the bathroom was very old and run down. Very disappointing. Even though the hotel is about 100 yrs old, it does not have to look rundown.
Stayed in Boutique hotel in Hamilton, very nice but not up to US Boutique standards. Best hotel on the trip was in Auckland by the sailing harbor, room modern but parking situation is pathetic. Only have room for 10 cars or so, for a large hotel. Except for the first night, had to park several blocks away in a municipal parking garage (car park), at the same price as at the hotel. Very inconvenient, we were there in summer, would be a miserable walk in the winter.
Great information about things to do in each city.
More than complete!.......2007-02-12
Great book, the information is accurate, complete and extremely useful at the time of choosing NZ as a travelling destination. plus, its ad free. just excellent.
Perfect for the budget traveller.......2007-01-10
This is the must have book for anyone doing NZ on the cheap, although NZ aint that cheap.
If you're doing a driving tour with your 78 year old Mum, you might want to look at something a little more middle of the road, but it worked for Mum & me.
Lot's of detail, but activities seems a bit more geared to the adrenaline junkie, then again, with 2 weeks to TRY and see both islands, I didn't have a lot of time to read the book.
Plan at least a month if you want to see both islands and not wipe yourself out.
Lonely Planet guides are my first choice. South America on a shoestring got me around the whole place, no worries...
Big and heavy. If you're backpacking with a friend, rip it in half and share the load. Just make sure you rip between chapters, not half way through!
Essential travel book.......2007-01-09
This latest edition of New Zealand is a very good read. Typically LP, it is really essential when travelling as a backpacker. Because besides all the recommended highlights it has plenty of city maps and the very usefull section getting there and around. But what is absolutely perfect about this guide book is the sense of humour in the texts. It let's you read and travel always with a smile on :-)
Book Description
Recognized the world over by frequent flyers and armchair travelers alike, Eyewitness Travel Guides are the most colorful and comprehensive guides on the market. With beautifully commissioned photographs and spectacular 3-D aerial views revealing the charm of each destination, these amazing travel guides show what others only tell.
Customer Reviews:
New Zealand Eyewithess Travel Guide is great for planning.......2007-09-30
Eyewithess Travel Guides give the best overall overview of any travel book or other travel product - good organization; great pictures, maps and other graphics; interesting & concise text and descriptions about history, national foods and beverages, etc.; good suggestions for lodging and eating. They are excellet resource and reference books, but they are concise enough to give a relatively complete overview but short enough to quickly convey information, especially if you do not have a lot of free time.
I believe that carefully reading about a desination is important for planning any trip. The Eyewithess Travel Guides are the best way to obtain that overview and prioritize where you want to go. The New Zealand guide is enormous help to us with our planning.
Use this DK travel guide like a shopping catalogue.......2007-08-11
This DK travel guide to New Zealand is quite good at describing that island nation in a general sense, and offering lots of beautiful color illustrations and photographs of neat places to go. But it's not so great as an actual travel guide. First of all, it's a bit heavy to carry around. Second, it is broad, rather than jam-packed with helpful details. Third, it offers up mostly white-bread, been-there-done-that activities and sites.
I suggest that you consult this DK guide **before** you head to New Zealand, in order to get familiar with the country and to pick the mainstream places and monuments you want to see. Then leave it at home, and bring a more dense, helpful guide along with you (such as "The Rough Guide to New Zealand").
The DK guide to New Zealand will make a handsome souvenir reference once you return home.
Useful, but needs a supplement.......2007-01-04
I love the Eyewitness Travel Guide series but they generally suffer from certain limitations and the New Zealand guide is no exception. It starts off with the standard historical chapter before getting to an area-by-area description and summary of both islands that form the country. This is where the book shines because it offers color photos on every page that are invaluable in helping you decide which sights are must-see and which ones you can skip if you are short on time. As you would expect, every region is covered, from Auckland in the north down to Stewart Island in the far south. All of the major attractions are covered although perhaps not as comprehensively as you might like.
Next, come the sections on hotels, shopping, restaurants, and other practical needs. These sections are not as comprehensive as you'll see in some other guides such as Frommer's New Zealand (Frommer's Complete). And this really is what it comes down to. The Eyewitness guides are not as detailed as most of the other guide books. They are, however, the only series to offer hundreds of color photos to help you visualise your trip and this is an invaluable planning tool. I highly recommend that you buy this guide as well as one of the more detailed books and use them both to plan your trip. That's the only way to get everything you need to plan a great vacation.
These books can't be beat and are top choices for destination-oriented travelers.......2006-10-15
NEW ZEALAND achieves the same for that country, packing all into a pocket-sized tote which is just easy enough to take along, yet compromises nothing in the amount of detail offered. From driving and walking tours to cultural insights, these books can't be beat and are top choices for destination-oriented travelers wanting visual excitement paired with practical facts.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Average customer rating:
- Mostly boring
- An Australian Journey
- enjoyable read
- no title
- An Excellent Choice - The Road from Coorain
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The Road from Coorain
Jill Ker Conway
Manufacturer: Vintage
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A Woman's Education
ASIN: 0679724362
Release Date: 1990-08-11 |
Book Description
From the shelter of a protective family, to the lessons of tragedy and independence, this is an indelible portrait of a harsh and beautiful country and the inspiring story of a remarkable woman's life.
Customer Reviews:
Mostly boring.......2007-10-18
Jill Ker was born in 1934 in the west of New South Wales, Australia.She grew up on a sheep ranch.She had her share of troubles: her father drowned, possibly it was a suicide, when she was 11. At age 14 her charismatic elder brother died in a car crash. In her 20s her mother began to lose her mental balance. Jill studied history at the University of Sydney and at 25 went to Harvard.Her childhood on a sheep station has some interest, but the details of her unremarkable academic studies are tedious.She comes across as an introverted person who found it difficult to make friends.She had little fun in life: no jolly japes, no humorous anecdotes.Her self-centeredness and lack of humor make for dull reading.
An Australian Journey.......2007-10-07
This beautiful book tells the story of one girl's childhood on an isolated sheep farm in Australia; that girl would eventually end up as the first woman president of Smith College, one of the finest universities in the United States (part of the Seven Sisters). Before that, she studied at the University of Sydney, moving on to Harvard University in the States. Much like the movie, "My Brilliant Career," the story follows the harsh living conditions of her youth and her meteoric rise to success.
The part of the story that will speak to you most clearly, however, is that of the young girl with golden dreams who faces so much adversity and such little chance of escaping her isolating circumstances. Her father owned 30,000 arid acres in Australia and when the land succumbed to drought, he committed suicide; shortly thereafter, her brother was in an auto accident that resulted in his death. Faced with these tragedies, Conway's mother was overcome with depression and unable to help her daughter succeed. That Jill Ker Conway lets none of that prevent her from reaching a pinnacle of success that no one in her family or community in Australia could ever have imagined for her is the stuff of dreams.
enjoyable read.......2007-02-12
The wonderful autobiography entitled, The Road From Coorain, written by Jill Ker Conway is a must-read! Her engaging and rich detail gives an enchanting description of the Australian life-style from a very unique perspective.
Beginning in the 1930's, young Jill Ker lived with her tightly-knit family on a ranch called Coorain, Australia. Isolated in the desert and located far from Sydney, Coorain, has created an unordinary life-style for not only Jill but for her two brothers, Barry and Bob. Maintaining the remote Coorain is the family's only way to ensure stability and in the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Ker; the significance of Coorain is considered more important than a formal education. Though, when the dreadful droughts of the arid terrain continue to spontaneously appear, life becomes awfully challenging and difficult for the Ker family. Suffering from famine because of the lack of crops and animals, Coorain becomes involved in a downward spiral. As a result, Jill as well as other family members, encounter the enormous struggle of overcoming the concept of death and sorrow. As Jill grows into a young woman, she faces unfortunate events that set her back, creating various obstacles as she journeys down the unpredictable road of life. Faced with challenges romantically, intellectually, and within the family ultimately affects her career and talents, though somehow Jill miraculously manages to succeed.
Choosing an academic career as a historian, Jill faced the constant struggle of chauvinism living as a young woman during the 1950's. Her passion and remarkable academic achievements clearly demonstrated her natural talent as a student. Unfortunately, the unfair privileges men had in contrast to women was a constant obstacle. Jill had potential and unlike some other women, had the possibility of attaining her high hopes and dreams. Her brilliance and intellectual capability distinguished her as an individual, though she was unfortunately not recognized with equality because she was woman. "But I received a blandly courteous letter thanking me for my interest. I was dumfounded. Milton and I had ranked first in our class and were to be awarded the University Medal jointly for our academic achievements. I could scarcely believe that my refusal was because I was a woman...I knew I was no more and no less intellectually aggressive than Milton and Rob. That left my sex and my appearance." Though Jill Ker faced multiple obstacles throughout her life, she clearly proves that hard work and perseverance is a powerful way to achieve one's goals.
This engaging autobiography is filled with compelling and descriptive prose. Beautifully written, Mrs. Conway eloquently yet succinctly expresses the many conflicts one can be presented in life. Given her natural gravitation towards the subject of history, she enlightens the reader with interesting historical backgrounds of the many places she has traveled. Her simplistic, yet thought-provoking perspectives maintain one's fascination throughout the course of the book. Every moment I spend reading it was enjoyable. Mrs. Conway's, informative yet concise style of writing kept me actively involved. Her marvelously written descriptions, gave me an excellent understanding of the rural Australian life-style: "On the western side the mountains' gentler hills sloped down to rolling countryside; valleys covered with rich black soil sheltered streams winding westward. The gentle slopes rising from each watercourse were crowned with orchards in blossom, while below the contoured patterns of spring crops burst in brilliant green from the dark earth. I liked looking at this scenery with the dew still on it, well before the heat of the day." This autobiography filled with endless drama, love, and the hardships of life, is a definite must-read!
no title.......2005-11-19
I related to and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Conway's descriptions of Australia are beautiful. She has written a follow-up book which I would like to read also. And on second reading, I feel more and more that perhaps her mother had some chemical imbalance, because she changed so drastically. Either that, or her repressed emotions after the deaths of her husband and her oldest son in the space of five years, led her to the bitter old woman she became.
An Excellent Choice - The Road from Coorain.......2005-09-22
I'd recommend the The Road from Coorain anytime. I thought Jill Ker Conway's description of Australia was wonderfully descriptive. I felt I was there as she described her life in the bush as well as the city. Her ability to convey her feelings and her understanding of her situation growing up in a less than idealic life came through the pages as each situation developed. The book left me admiring her strength of character and understanding.
Unlike a book I recently read about the life a a political figure, I found Jill was able to touch on the emotion and struggle that life had dealt her and potray an understanding of the impact on her life. Definitely worth reading.
Average customer rating:
- brilliant, beautiful, powerful folk tale of girl power
- Has its problems, but still works.
- The film is certainly better
- Excellent coming of age story
- Lyrical....
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The Whale Rider
Witi Ihimaera
Manufacturer: Harcourt Paperbacks
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ASIN: 0152050167 |
Book Description
Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. Her people claim descent from Kahutia Te Rangi, the legendary "whale rider." In every generation since Kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a successor. Kahu is his only great-grandchild--and Maori tradition has no use for a girl. But when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the Maori tribe, it is Kahu who saves the tribe when she reveals that she has the whale rider's ancient gift of communicating with whales.
Now available in simultaneous hardcover and paperback editions.
Feature film in theaters in June 2003!
Customer Reviews:
brilliant, beautiful, powerful folk tale of girl power.......2007-05-05
I love this movie, so I decided to read the book. As with any book on which a brilliant and well-executed film is based, it's a challenge for the reader to fall in love with the original story. The film was very faithful, and so it wasn't difficult to love this novel as well. But there are some deficiencies. First of all, the characters seem more real and dimensional in the film than the book. This is especially true of the heroine, who seems a mystical and distant child in the book, but comes off more real through Keisha Castle-Hughes' portrayal. Second, the film is much more realistic, only slightly testing the boundaries of reality and disbelief. The book is much more fantastic, though it contains more insight into the tribe's culture. And yet, the book is utterly powerful, honestly moving, and incredibly beautiful. It's a brilliant modern folk tale of a Maori tribe threatened by the modern world to hold onto its traditions. The chief (Koro) rejects his great-granddaughter Kahu who has broken the male line of succession. Koro tries desperately to maintain his tribe, reinforce the old traditions, and keep their connection with their totem animal, the whale on which their ancestor traveled to their lands. Meanwhile, Kahu desperately seeks her great-grandfather's love, not to mention acceptance. It slowly becomes obvious that Kahu--despite her gender and great-grandfather's rejection--is deeply connected to the whales and the sea (which is actually a taboo for a female to engage in), and is the salvation of her tribe. Obviously, fate and destiny care not for gender and traditions, as this girl is apparently destined for great things. It's an incredible story of family, destiny, strength, girl power, expectations, traditions, and culture. Grade: A
Has its problems, but still works........2006-08-24
Witi Ihimaera, Whale Rider (Harcourt, 1987)
This relatively obscure little book exploded after being adapted into an award-winning film. The book still hasn't gotten as popular as the movie, though, and that's something of a crime against nature. I have not yet seen the movie-- I wanted to read the book first (and will likely see the movie next week)-- but I know how the whole book-to-movie thing usually goes. And it's usually a crime against nature when the book doesn't get popular even after the movie's a big hit, so I'm playing the odds on that one.
As for the book itself, it's quite a good little tale, full of a young adult kind of magic realism that's likely to make the reader, if he hasn't already, consider the link between magic realism, the literary cliché du jour, and folktales. Ihimaera gives us the Whale Rider creation myth while telling us the story of a Maori chieftain who refuses to see that his granddaughter Kuha is developing into the new chieftain before his eyes because of his traditional beliefs that a male must take the position. (Despite, we find out, the fact that women have held the position in the past. Hard-headed old sod, eh?) We spend much of our time just learning about the characters, with Ihimaera throwing in some interesting perspectives at times; for example, narrator Rawiri, Kuha's uncle, leaves New Zealand for two years to run a coffee plantation in Papua New Guinea (and this allows for some rather odd humor, as well as a blistering excoriation of modern racism in the region), and we find out about Kuha's development only through letters and phone calls for a while. Yet it is rare that Ihimaera takes his focus off Kuha for more than a paragraph or two at a time.
A lovely tale, well worth your time, whether you've seen the movie or not. *** ½
The film is certainly better.......2006-05-31
Like most people, I bought the book after watching the film... in fact it took me ages to find the book because here in Spain it was called "the legend of the whales". Anyway, I thought the film was very moving and since when I'm obsessed with a movie I buy also the book, I did.
The first thing that surprised me was that the girl is not called Pai, but Kahu, and second, that it was told from the uncle's perspective rather than the girl. I though it wouldn't be good because on the film the uncle is a rather minor character... and in fact, it isn't.
I found the story dull and had to make myself keep reading. The only good thing I can say is that at least it explained a lot of the myth of Paikea, which in the movie wasn't explained that much. Other than that, there wasn't anything to keep me hokked to the book.
Niki Caro is a great scriptwriter because she made a fantastic film from this rather forgettable book.
Excellent coming of age story.......2005-11-20
This is an excellent coming of age story for a young girl, or boy! Readers will find delightful lore and learn something of New Zealand. The movie wasn't a disappointment, though I'm glad I read the book first.
Chrissy K. McVay
author of 'Souls of the North Wind'
Lyrical...........2005-09-21
Simple without being simplistic, here's a magical tale of destiny and love. Essential reading for those who have become world-weary and cynical from the constant battering of our scientific-material world.
Book Description
Southeast Asia and Oceania are global epicenters of economic growth, and Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines in particular have each enjoyed building booms that include modern houses designed by some of the world's most talented architects. And though these countries feature rich variations in culture, language, and in some cases climate, their contemporary residential architectures share many similar characteristics. Sometimes these are crisp residential designs rendered in the most modern forms, while in other cases architects draw on local cultural or vernacular building materials, such as stone or wood, to create houses that, while still undeniably modern, are very much of their place. But the most ambitious and innovative of these projects all maintain a strong design sensibility that transcends geographic borders. Pacific Modern is a spectacularly illustrated tour of the most exciting examples of residential architecture in these regions. Among the architects whose work is presented are Glenn Murcutt, Sean Godsell, Burley Katon Halliday, Engelen Moore, Kerry Hill, and Fearon Hay.
Customer Reviews:
Pacific Modern.......2007-03-09
It is a great collection of modern architecture, it is wonderful to see such examples throught the world. Since I know the author personally, I love to see how his second book is even better than the first.
Great Inspirations.......2007-02-07
We purchased this book as a reference for clients building new homes. We are based in Australia and have seen these photos before...our clients hadn't so it was still very useful. Clear and with floorplans shows how space and light work well.
Book Description
The Rough Guide to New Zealand is the essential guidebook to this spectacular adventure destination. A fully comprehensive account, the guide incorporates a country full of magnificent scenery, craggy coastlines, sweeping beaches, primeval forests, snow-capped alpine mountains, bubbling volcanic pools, fast-flowing rivers and glacier-fed lakes. This jam-packed guide contains expert coverage, catering for every traveller, from the country rambler to the adventure-seeking, Lord of the Rings enthusiasts. The guide also includes significant historical and cultural information, provides detailed town maps and information about the countryÂ's exciting nightlife, even managing to find time to teach the reader how to do the world-famous haka!
Customer Reviews:
size of print.......2007-07-30
I had Rough Guides recommended to me but I am disappointed in the size of the print, I would have rather the book been larger that having to strain my eyesight to read. I'm sure the book is very informative & we will ready ourselves hopefully for a trip to NZ in late 2008.
Invaluable Accurate Information.......2007-03-05
I planned our entire trip using a good road map and the 4th addition of the Rough Guide. Everything regarding the locations we visited was amazingly accurate. There are good maps of all the cities as well as the areas of interest. I did not find particularly useful the recommendations for accommodations, which featured either places for backpackers or those at the higher end, with not much in between. I also did not agree with some of the restaurant recommendations. Nevertheless if you are looking for a great guide book for everything else, this one is a winner.
An excellent resource.......2007-01-13
After trying another guidebook, we purchased The Rough Guide shortly before we left for New Zealand. It was an invaluable companion during our travels. The reviews were spot-on, leading us to a number of excellent restaurants and good campgrounds. We even appreciated knowing that a restaurant was "somewhat overpriced but adequate" before we went in--and that description was completely accurate.
The Rough Guide covers a range of restaurants and accommodations, which is useful. Even budget travelers sometimes like to splurge (and know that the splurge is worth the money). Their evaluation of activities was also accurate.
This guide is well worth the price--and worth it's weight when traveling.
Great Reference, With websites and prices!.......2007-01-09
We are yet to take our trip to New Zealand, however, I'm sure we'll feel more comfortable with our decisions on where to go, what to see, where to stay, and what to do from using this Book. The book gives general price ranges for hotels, activites, and in some cases restaurants. I think the greatest resource has been the website listings within each section. The websites cover everything from airlines, to tour groups, to just general information about the country. Needless to say, We're very excited to take our trip and I know this book will be coming along with us!
Absolutely the Best Guidebook for New Zealand.......2006-12-31
I fancy myself somewhat of an expert in New Zealand travel, with numerous lengthy trips there, including two group trips that I organized and led. I have used DK, Lonely Planet, Let's Go, and Rough Guide, and there is absolutely no question which is best. Rough Guide. It is more thorough and more intelligently written than any of the others, and its graphics have gradually improved as well. Though not as glossy as DK or as famous as Lonely Planet, Rough Guide provides the traveler/reader with the best understanding of New Zealand. If in doubt, go to a bookstore and read the descriptions of a given place in Lonely Planet, and then in Rough Guide. It will be obvious which is better. I recently purchased the recent editions of both Rough Guide and Lonely Planet (both published Sept 2006) but have decided that it won't be necessary to bring both on my next trip to New Zealand. Rough Guide has everything found in Lonely Planet and much, much more. Highly recommend.
Book Description
This revised edition of a comprehensive single-volume Australian history reference incorporates the most recent historical research and contemporary debate on relevant issues. In addition to frontier violence between European settlers and Aborigines and the Stolen Generations, the volume covers the Sydney Olympics, the refugee crisis and the "Pacific solution."
Customer Reviews:
concise history of australia.......2005-12-30
According to the author, Australian history is 200 years of racism, sexism, oppression, dominance, exploitation. The victims are aborginal people, women, the early convicts -- and the environment. The villains, of course, are white males. When the Australian economy dips, the fault lies with the U.S., world capitalism and neoliberalism. When the Australian economy thrives, it just means Aussies can waste more money on bourgeois geegaws. The tone is humorless, unrelenting, shrill, one-sided -- a prime example of what one Australian referred to as "black armband history".
How could concise seem so long?.......2004-08-25
The first thing that came to mind as I trudged through Macintyre's wordy book was how could something called "concise" seem so long? This book is informative but entirely humorless, like reading an ingredient list. Macintyre seems more concerned with showcasing his vocabularity then with enticing you with the facinating history of Australia's past. There is plenty of information in this book if you can make it through to the end while maintaining consciousness. If you are about to visit Australia and you are looking for an entertaining and informative book to stimulate your enthusiasm I strongly recommend Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country. If you are looking for a strong sedative then this is the book for you.
Informative and well-written.......2000-11-24
I have long wanted to read a general history of Austrailia, and when I read. on April 3, 1988, The Fatal Shore, by Robert Hughes, I said to myself, in my post-reading note: "I am glad I read this book, but maybe I'd've done better to read a plain history of Australia than this long account of this aspect of its beginning." I am shamed to say that it has taken over 12 years to do what I thought I should have done back then. This book goes up to 1999, and portrays very well the current dilemmas facing Australia. If you enjoy the articles in Current History, as I do, this book reminds me of those articles, except it is less bland and neutral. Ordinarily I avoid histories with designations such as "short" or "concise" figuring that I want a fuller treatment. But when one knows as little of a country as I do of Australia, I thought this a good introduction to its history.
Very good modernist view of Australian history.......2000-07-12
Stuart's work is an excellent overview of Australian history from the dreamtime to the present. He captures the major periods and events that shaped the progress of Australia towards federation and beyond, into the current malaise over national identity and the development of a unique and identifiable cultures.
Modern thought increasingly accepts the indigenous problems that were part of Australian colonisation, and Stuart probes these and other contemporary issues by drawing from both sides of the debate. He illustrates research that examines the language of overland explorers, to determine whether they were 'exploring' or 'conquering', and he comments on modern interpretations of the constitution by the high court. Readers not well versed in Australian issues may pass over these slights of hands without understanding their importance in the nature of forging an Australian history, culture and identity.
I would recommend this book as a necessary overview for any person interested in the history of the country, including potential tourists.
Amazon.com
An extraordinary volume--even a masterpiece--about the early history of Australia that reads like the finest of novels. Hughes captures everything in this complex tableau with narrative finesse that drives the reader ever-deeper into specific facts and greater understanding. He presents compassionate understanding of the plights of colonists--both freemen and convicts--and the Aboriginal peoples they displaced. One of the very best works of history I have ever read.
Book Description
The history of the birth of Australia which came out of the suffereing and brutality of England's infamous convict transportation system. With 16 pages of illustrations and 3 maps.
Customer Reviews:
Very strong research but with a dense and morbid writing cadance.......2007-07-14
Robert Hughes' The Fatal Shore is an assiduously and tirelessly researched work on the Western "founding" of Australia through essentially an experiment with a penal colony. Hughes obviously has written, to date, the finest and most exhaustive piece on the wonderfully interesting, albeit terrifying, beginnings of the country Down Under. All of this said, while the research is almost beyond the scope of critical analysis, the writing surely is not.
This book, not unlike Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago is dense, and not simply in an academic sense. Hughes drones on and on with anecdotal writings of many of the criminal on "transportation", their keepers and eventually, the settlers. While much of this is interesting the author greatly fails the reader with redundancy - his take seems to be where two would be good, ten would be better. As such, the book drags. It seems almost sacrilege to say anything derogatory about this work (or Solzhenitsyn's as well) as the topics are covered incredibly well. But it seems the reader is not considered, only the research.
The writing aside, readers will come away with a unique and strong base of information on the founding of Australia and the timing of it. Hughes also does a terrific job of showing how the American Revolution influenced London decision makers to embark on such a large task and traces the increase in crime in the late 18th century and early 19th century throughout England, but in London specifically. This is a book that, while good, is quite dense. It is a task to read and is not up to all the accolades critics seem to shower upon it.
What's This Book Got To Do With America ?.......2007-03-13
To the reviewer below.....this book is about the founding of Australia. It has nothing to with America. You should focus on reviewing the book rather than using this as a platform to express your political views. Anyway, this book shed much light on Australia's origins. This is history not too well-known. I didn't realize there was this much detailed fact in the convict beginnings of Australia. It's a fascinating read and colorful characters come to life on the page. A highly recommended book.
How Did we get where we are.......2007-03-08
After reading this book, I am amazed that Australia became within less than 200 years a prosperous, democratic and modern nation. Mr Hughes goes on about our hiding details of "the stain". What country was he born into?
History was taught at school when I was educated in the 1950's and 60's and our convict past was taught in detail. I can't remember my friends or family "whispering" about it!
I love and am proud of my country; of the millions who toiled to make it what it is today and I've never been ashamed of our convict past; it goes a long way to explain why Mr Hughes lives in the USA and makes a living denegrating his homeland.
We are not American; we don't want to be American and if transportation has shaped our character it's preferable to the Puritan ethos that cursed and still curses the US.
Australia's Convict Legacy.......2007-03-06
Even though this book was written over 20 years ago, it doesn't yet feel dated. It has that timeless quality, the sure sign of a classic. Former art critic of Time magazine and author of many excellent books, Robert Hughes is probably one of the finest prose stylists writing in English today. This history of Australia is unique in that Hughes digs deeply into the past by examining the testimony of the convicts that were "transported" to this land that was in still largely unknown.
In the 20 years prior to the first transportation of convicts from Britain to Botany Bay (1788), the population of London had doubled. This rapid urbanization created poverty and overcrowding, and it spawned an entire "criminal class." There were so many violations of capital statutes that the authorities were reluctant to hang all the criminals for fear of riots. They then decided to house criminals in old ships moored in the docks, but this too proved to be only a temporary measure.
It was at this juncture that transportation was seen as the answer. The British believed, as Hughes tells it, that they would purify the race by ridding themselves of this criminal class. Genetic determinism was a fashionable belief at this time. Ultimately, it was discredited, writes Hughes, "as causes of crime lie within society not the criminal." Transporting convicts had the additional benefit of providing the colonies with free labor. They were considered better workers than the aborigines, who were also subjected to very harsh conditions by the colonists.
Most of the convicts were guilty of crimes against property, a serious offense in those days; very few were "political" prisoners. About 15% were women, all designated prostitutes. The authorities tried to send over only younger women so that they would become wives of the soldiers guarding the convicts. Many of them ultimately married soldiers in order to secure their freedom.
Hughes has written some very moving accounts of the brutishness and inhumanity of this "System." For those convicts who committed a crime while in detention, further punishment was meted out by sending them to Norfolk Island. This was a secondary detention center about 1,000 miles off the coast. It was known as "the Botany Bay of Botany Bay." The only way to escape this hellhole was death, which many of them ultimately welcomed.
What finally ended the transportation system was that by mid-19th century Australia was becoming a thriving and wealthy colony. The newly established and respectable class no longer wanted convicts shipped to New South Wales. Many people were now paying to go to Australia. The local authorities began to question why convicts should be sent there for free. In 1868 the last boatload of convicts disembarked somewhere in Western Australia, marking the end of this ignoble practice.
Hughes has set the record straight for those who always felt that there were similarities between the settling of America and that of Australia. The latter started out not as a land of opportunity and freedom, but one of confinement and punishment.
Fatal Shore.......2006-03-18
It was very detailed about the early history of Australia's settlement colonies including in Norfolk Island, Van Dieman's Land(Tasmania) and New South Wales. It described famous stories of cannabalism, the relationship to the aborigines, the brutality of the penal settlements and the conditions in Ireland and Great Britain that caused the convicts to be shipped half way around the globe.
Book Description
Swim with the seals off eastern coasts, sip sauvignon blanc in Marlborough, bushwalk through the country's diverse and beautiful terrain, celebrate Matariki (the Maori New Year), or sail in the City of Sails (Auckland)–Fodor's New Zealand 2007 offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the country to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best –"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We frequently update our New Zealand guide, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area at Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best–so you know you're seeing the real New Zealand.
- Includes unique, color photos that illustrate the country's history and local activities and a full-color, pullout map of New Zealand.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent information on New Zealand.......2007-05-10
This has been an excellent source of information for my friends and me. We are going to New Zealand next year and know nothing of the country. Since we are planning on visiting wineries, we were happy to find enough on the subject to start planning which ones are "musts" to see.
Nice Tips and Info's.........2007-02-02
I have just got back from New Zealand, and got the 2006 guide with me...
And I must say that the good thing about these books are the tips they give on each city, and yes, it also gives an idea of the itinerary you can chose by the ammount of days you will be going to...
Even though NZ is a place fully prepared to be receiving tourists and Visitors Information centers just about everywhere in the country (for Real !!) and with plenty of information (that sometimes can cause confusion), the book was something that me and my wife always liked to read and get some of the tips.
The only drawback is that it does not point out at a Budget or even shoestring travel.. It is more on the medium to high profile by some of the guidance the book gives to you (about 80% of the time), but is a real good thing to take along.
We definitely liked it, and I could say that a lot of the tips we actually (restaurants, places to go..) followed and we satisfied with it.
You will like and for the price, it's worth to take at the trip.
And you will just love New Zealand... I bet you will !
:-)
Eh, it's ok........2007-01-27
If you're looking for something that you can take along with you for reference, then this book is not it -- it's way too clunky. If you're COMPLETELY unfamiliar with the country, then this book is for you. If you're going to visit EVERY part of the country, then this book is for you. But if you're only going to do a city stay, or see one or part of one of the islands, then this book is NOT for you. If you already have your itenarary planned out, then this book is NOT for you. About the only thing that I liked about this book is that it gave me some ideas for side trips, and a map. Both of which I could have gotten when I arrived in New Zealand.
Book Description
Make tracks across the spectacular range of New Zealand landscapes. The deep valleys of Fiordland and Mt Aspiring beckon, the Marlborough Sounds call, the volcanoes of Tongariro are steaming ... explore on foot the natural wonders of this country from coast to Cook. foreword by New Zealand adventurer Peter Hillary 53 detailed trail descriptions for trampers of all levels colour section on the Great Walks of New Zealand two-colour contour maps for all featured tramps essential accommodation and transport information expert advice on equipment, health and environ- mentally responsible walking
Customer Reviews:
Great book with all the basic info you need.......2007-05-12
The book had all the basic info. you need for hiking in New Zealand. It's easy to read with a couple of nice pictures. Enjoy!
Great reference guide.......2007-01-10
By far the best guide available about tramping opportunities in NZ. The track guides are pretty accurate and provide a good overview of what to expect.
A book for the planning Tramper.......2000-04-09
This edition is far better than the previous editions. It's new organization and additional information sections are a marked improvement. A new section on Flora and Fauna gives a highlight of any New Zealand tramp. This book acts as an excellent reference book while tramping. Of course, if the book contained every piece of required information, (i.e. highly detailed maps and every step of the way instructions) it would require 1000's of pages. The authors surmount that difficulty by including instructions on how to obtain additional necessary information. The book is perfect for those that are looking into or planning a backpacking trek to New Zealand.
Easy tramping in New Zealand.......2000-04-04
This is a great book for planning a tramping trip to New Zealand, although it's a bit too much to carry while actually hiking. The book contains good references and maps to the most popular tracks, and some of the lesser known tracks. If your tight on cash, I recommend going to the visitor centers in New Zealand and picking up the DOC pamphlets they supply. D.O.C. has detailed pamphlets on pretty much every track in New Zealand and they only charge about 50 cents (US) for each one. But if you want to plan a trip from home, this is the book to get, it's far easier to understand than the other New Zealand tramping books, and gives good information on what you need to bring. It also gives good info on the New Zealand back country hut system. Buy a hut pass, they're only 35 bucks (US) for a year. It even supplies some decent fly fishing tips for the rivers that border some of the tracks. But be warned that almost every other tourist hiker in New Zealand also has this book, so if you really want to get away from people, you'll have to do some bushwacking.
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- National Geographic Guide to the National Parks: West (NG Guide to the National Parks)
- National Geographic Jewish Heritage Travel: A Guide to Eastern Europe
- National Geographic Traveler: Italy (National Geographic Traveler)
- Nature Walks in Connecticut, 2nd: AMC Guide to the Hills, Woodlands, and Coast of Connecticut (AMC Nature Walks Series)
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