David Marr will be in conversation with Frank Bongiorno on his new book, Killing for Country: A Family Story, a gripping reckoning with the bloody history of Australia’s frontier wars
Renowned journalist and author David Marr was shocked to discover forebears who served with the brutal Native Police in the bloodiest years on the frontier. Killing for Country is the result – a soul-searching Australian history.
This is a richly detailed saga of politics and power in the colonial world – of land seized, fortunes made and lost, and the violence let loose as squatters and their allies fought for possession of the country – a war still unresolved in today’s Australia.
“This book is more than a personal reckoning with Marr’s forebears and their crimes. It is an account of an Australian war fought here in our own country, with names, dates, crimes, body counts and the ghastly, remorseless views of the ‘settlers’. Thank you, David.”-Marcia Langton
David Marr has written for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Saturday Paper, The Guardian and The Monthly, and has served as editor of The National Times, reporter for Four Corners and presenter of ABC TV’s Media Watch. His books include Patrick White: A Life, The High Price of Heaven, Dark Victory (with Marian Wilkinson), Panic and six bestselling Quarterly Essays. His most recent book is My Country. David is the recipient of four Walkley awards for journalism, an Honorary Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities and received Honorary Doctorates from Newcastle and Sydney Universities
Frank Bongiorno AM, Professor of History ANU, is currently President of the Australian Historical Association. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the Australian Academy of the Humanities and a Whitlam Institute Distinguished Fellow at Western Sydney University. His most recent book is Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia.
The vote of thanks will be given by Emeritus Professor John Uhr, School of Politics & International Relations, ANU
This event is in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop. Books will be available for purchase on the evening in the Cultural Centre foyer. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm, and available again after the event.
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A podcast will be made available after the event.
Symposium by University House Wine bar (Shop 13, 152 University Avenue, Acton, which is just next to the Kambri cultural center) will now be open for dining after meet the author events. Food and wine details at https://unihouse.anu.edu.au/eat/symposium/ No bookings necessary.
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