History Archives

REVIEW: Geoffrey Blainey’s The Story of Australia’s People: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Australia (Review by Justin Cahill)

In his 1994 A Shorter History of Australia, Geoffrey Blainey confided that for “…many years I have been intermittently writing a very long and multi-sided book about Australia’s history, a book which I might never finish.” Coming from the doyen of Australian historians, this was exciting news. A single-author, inclusive and up-to-date account of our past is long over-due. Fast-forward over twen... Read more

by | February 8, 2016

The book every Australian should read in 2016

In July 2015, as the debate over Adam Goodes being booed at AFL games raged and got ever more heated and ugly, Stan Grant wrote a short but powerful piece for The Guardian that went viral, not only in Australia but right around the world, shared over 100,000 times on social media. His was a personal, passionate and powerful response to racism in Australian and the sorrow, shame, anger and hards... Read more

by | January 1, 2016

Remembrance Day: 10 Reads on the Costs of War

The one thing Australia and the Commonwealth should never forget is its history, in particular the sacrifices our ancestors made during World World 1 and in subsequent times of conflict. Today, on Remembrance Day, we remember those that have fallen, sacrificing their very lives to provide a better life for us. The below ten books detail the horrors and costs of war, helping us never forget that... Read more

by | November 11, 2015

Australian National Living Treasure, Tom Keneally, chats with Booktopia about his new book, Napoleon’s Last Island.

Australian author, playwright and novelist Tom Keneally dropped by to sign a few books and chat with us about his latest masterpiece, Napoleon’s Last Island. This enthusiastic and effervescent man has an extraordinary talent for bringing history to life, riveting readers (and listeners) with his compelling storytelling. But don’t take our word for it … have a listen to his pod... Read more

by | November 2, 2015

BREAKING NEWS: 2015 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Shortlists Announced

The shortlists for this year’s NSW Premier’s Literary Awards have been announced, featuring some of Australia’s most celebrated writers and young up and comers. How many have you read? CHRISTINA STEAD PRIZE FOR FICTION * Ceridwen Dovey – Only the Animals (More…) * Elizabeth Harrower – In Certain Circles (More…) * Sonya Hartnett – Golden Boys (More... Read more

by | April 24, 2015