Dispossession: Black Australians and White Invaders

by Henry Reynolds

Aboriginal and immigrant Australians have shared this continent for 200 years. Nineteenth century writers were aware of the importance of the Aboriginal presence, but when the colonists began to write their own history the Aborigines were erased from the account. Recently, this “history” has been overturned as we rediscover the role of Aborigines in our past. In this collection of documents our forebears speak for themselves. They present a fascinating picture of how they endeavored to come to terms—emotionally, morally and intellectually—with the victims of the dispossession. This fascinating collection, compiled by a leading authority on white-Aboriginal relations, challenges the general reader to reinterpret our past. It will prove invaluable to students of history and race relations in schools, colleges and universities. The Australian Experience explores major themes in Australia's history in a lively, accessible manner. Dispossession is the fifth book in the series.

Genres: History

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 1990

About the author

Henry Reynolds is currently an ARC Senior Research Fellow at the University of Tasmania at Launceston. He was for many years at James Cook University in Townsville. He is the author of many well-known books including The Other Side of the Frontier, Law of the Land, Fate of a Free People and Why Weren’t We Told?

Reviews

[Michael Lever · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work has dated. Written only 3 years before Mabo, it goes to great lengths to make points that may have been controversial at the time, but which passed into law with the Mabo decision.
It's perhaps an overstatement to describe the book as written by Reynolds. Compiled is probably more accurate as for the most part it consists of lengthy citations from primary white historical sources, with little if any analysis or synthesis by Reynolds.