Terrifying tsunamis, corpse-robbing morgue staff, killer cops, neo-Nazis, and power junkies electrify this epic tale of a city with a cold vacuum f...
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reviews
Aug 29, 2011
Cameron
rated it: 
Brilliant - a very enjoyable popular / crime history when the author keeps out of it. I personally found it very interesting as it supports things that my folk said about growing up in Sydney.
The technique of tackling 3 different aspects of Sydney as chapters ("The Long Goodbye" - poverty, immigration and successive waves of resistance to new comers, "The Virgin's Lie" - the harsh forces of nature that affect Sydney, "Only the Strong" - the brutal nature o More...
The technique of tackling 3 different aspects of Sydney as chapters ("The Long Goodbye" - poverty, immigration and successive waves of resistance to new comers, "The Virgin's Lie" - the harsh forces of nature that affect Sydney, "Only the Strong" - the brutal nature o More...
Feb 05, 2009
Craig
rated it: 
I only wish that I had discovered both this book and The Fatal Shore when I was at school. Actually, that would have been a remarkable achievement as this wasn't published until after I left school. But both books share a similar fascination and at times nearly morbid curiosity with the darker side of history, and reveal a lot about our checkered past that seems to get conveniently overlooked in the classroom. It's certainly not all gold and cheerful convict songs. Whilst Hughes uses his very ed
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Mar 25, 2009
Penelly
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. It's a cultural history of Sydney (and Australia, really, since the colony began here), with plenty of humour and social commentary thrown in. Not your average history book, Birmingham brings historical figures (such as our early Governors) to life. It's structured according to themes, rather than a straight-forward chronological account of events, and this keeps it interesting I reckon. It helps to show how the past and present are connected. It's funny, gritty and v
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Dec 20, 2008
n*
rated it: 
A sensational history of Sydney, the main thesis is: Sydney is a corrupt, bad city, with lots of crime, and no one cares about each other. Its dazzling shiny exterior hides an underbelly of grime and pain. It's capitalism run rampant, and it's killed people.
Shocking. Really. I mean, I simply can't think of other cities where money rules and people get it in the neck. Where organized crime once ruled over the police. Hmm...
Clearly, I'm thinking about New York, and that's More...
Shocking. Really. I mean, I simply can't think of other cities where money rules and people get it in the neck. Where organized crime once ruled over the police. Hmm...
Clearly, I'm thinking about New York, and that's More...
Jan 13, 2012
Finally finished this whale of a book! Walking the streets of Sydney will never feel quite the same again. The author compacts history so what was said and done at the birth of the colony is nudged up against contemporary examples of the same behaviour; suach as the attitude shown towards aboriginals; nothing much has changed between then and now. His writing slices out the extraneaous and builds a powerful dark caricature of our city which begs us to question how the city has shaped us after ou
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Sep 26, 2008
Marty
rated it:
John Birmingham is know more as a journalist and his brings his style to a longer format biographical sketch of the city of Sydney, Australia.
This book is one of the more engaging history books i've read, most due to how it tells its story. It is not a happy tale, full of murder, corruption, and bitter fights for survival but well worth reading. It also (suprisingly) has a solid class analysis. Birmingham is able to cut through the crap and see the systemic elements that shaped Sydne More...
This book is one of the more engaging history books i've read, most due to how it tells its story. It is not a happy tale, full of murder, corruption, and bitter fights for survival but well worth reading. It also (suprisingly) has a solid class analysis. Birmingham is able to cut through the crap and see the systemic elements that shaped Sydne More...
Jan 29, 2012
Andrea
rated it: 
This "unauthorised biography of Sydney; is actually a dark summary of all the defects which characterize a metropolis.
Although some historical facts are interesting as well as the use of the journalistic technique (simple present tense, plain structure, slang language), the lack of any bright side in Sydney past and present history is strongly suspicious and the author's opinion seems often biased.
Furthermore, the choice of not following any chronological order confounds readers without a sound More...
Although some historical facts are interesting as well as the use of the journalistic technique (simple present tense, plain structure, slang language), the lack of any bright side in Sydney past and present history is strongly suspicious and the author's opinion seems often biased.
Furthermore, the choice of not following any chronological order confounds readers without a sound More...
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Feb 09, 2012
Nick
rated it:
Imagine a comedian writing history! John Birmingham takes his sense of humour into this fascinating warts and all story of early Sydney town. This is a history that needed to be written, and John Birmingham has stepped up brilliantly. I'll never look at Sydney the same way again!
Excellent read.
Excellent read.
Jan 02, 2010
Jody
rated it:
A brilliantly conceived and executed story of sydney's not so pretty past. From repeated racism to crime a compelling and heart breaking read
Dec 10, 2010
Sandyboy
rated it:
i thought this would be fascinating but instead it just felt turgid and a tad to excited by it's exposure of grime
Jul 11, 2010
Desertgirl_2
rated it:
A heavy read, big book, I felt it required me to pay close attention, to concentrate. But I did highly enjoy it.
May 22, 2010
Matthew
rated it: 
Well written history of the darkside of Sydney. If you're looking for a history of how Sydney became the sprawling, thriving mass, you're not going to find it here. The book focuses on all the problems the city has faced, from power struggles any colony is bound to face (not to mention a penal colony at that), to man's lack of respect for the power of nature, to a corrupt police force and powerful criminal organization. Entertaining to the end, but beware it is a (dark) themed history.
Feb 14, 2008
Katherine
rated it:
A blackly humorous look at Sydney (Australia), its past and the events that shaped it. Birmingham does exhaustive research into the Australian city which began as a British jail, and follows a trail of violence, racism, and corruption from then to the present. Entertaining and emotional by turns. More history books should be written this way.
Sep 19, 2011
Carla
rated it:
An astonishing book about my hometown, and ultimately peels back the skin and provides the autopsy on the scum ridden country I call my birthplace. Every Australian needs to read this book.
Nov 18, 2007
Suyin
rated it:
I didn't actually finish this book, it really starts to drag near the middle.
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