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Dragon and Kangaroo
The fascinating story of the Chinese presence in and influence on this country - our intertwined history from colonial times to today.
Chinese 'presence' in Australia extends from well before the time of Captain Cook - trading with northern Australia long before Europeans came here - right through to the present day, with Chinese activities ranging from being the main customer for our iron ore, to their very extensive intelligence operations here.
Robert Macklin, bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Hamilton Hume and Dark Paradise, has traced a new history of the two nations. Macklin's engrossing narrative reaches from pre-colonial times, to John Macarthur's 'coolie' shepherds, the only Chinese bushranger, Sam Pu, and the multiple atrocities committed against the Chinese in the gold rush; through to the 20th century, where the two Australians - 'Morrison of Peking' and William Donald - played a significant role in the downfall of the last Chinese emperor and the creation of the first republic, before World War II and decades of Cold War brinkmanship; to our current economic bonds and Australia's role in the dangerous geopolitics of the South China Sea.
Dragon and Kangaroo is an absorbing account of a vastly underestimated part of Australia's story: this is our shared history, from an immensely important - and entirely new - angle.
Chinese 'presence' in Australia extends from well before the time of Captain Cook - trading with northern Australia long before Europeans came here - right through to the present day, with Chinese activities ranging from being the main customer for our iron ore, to their very extensive intelligence operations here.
Robert Macklin, bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Hamilton Hume and Dark Paradise, has traced a new history of the two nations. Macklin's engrossing narrative reaches from pre-colonial times, to John Macarthur's 'coolie' shepherds, the only Chinese bushranger, Sam Pu, and the multiple atrocities committed against the Chinese in the gold rush; through to the 20th century, where the two Australians - 'Morrison of Peking' and William Donald - played a significant role in the downfall of the last Chinese emperor and the creation of the first republic, before World War II and decades of Cold War brinkmanship; to our current economic bonds and Australia's role in the dangerous geopolitics of the South China Sea.
Dragon and Kangaroo is an absorbing account of a vastly underestimated part of Australia's story: this is our shared history, from an immensely important - and entirely new - angle.
- GenresHistory
337 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 1, 2017
Robert Macklin is a versatile writer: he’s written books with titles as diverse as The Secret Life of Jesus; War Babies; and The Great Australian Pie. And although he’s not an historian, he’s a journalist, Dragon and Kangaroo, subtitled Australia and China’s shared history from the goldfields to the present day is highly readable and thoroughly researched. It provides a political and cultural timeline of our mutual relationship that offers interesting insights.
Australia’s relationship with China is more important than ever because America’s influence and economic power is declining. Allan Gyngell, writing about Australia’s relationship with the US, in the new journal The Big Picture: Towards an Independent Foreign Policy: Australian Foreign Affairs; Issue 1 (Schwarz Publishing, October 2017) has this to say:
But it’s probably true to say that most of us know very little about our mutual relationship.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/11/01/d...
Australia’s relationship with China is more important than ever because America’s influence and economic power is declining. Allan Gyngell, writing about Australia’s relationship with the US, in the new journal The Big Picture: Towards an Independent Foreign Policy: Australian Foreign Affairs; Issue 1 (Schwarz Publishing, October 2017) has this to say:
Australia needs to put equal thought into its relationship with China. In one way or another, China will be central to all Australia’s economic, strategic and political objectives. It is hard to think of an international issue – from the security of the South China Sea to development policy in Africa – where China’s decisions will not be important. Inside Australia, the impact of growing Chinese investment, the presence of rising numbers of Chinese students and tourists, and the role of Chinese Australians in politics and public debate will become increasingly significant. (p. 40)
But it’s probably true to say that most of us know very little about our mutual relationship.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/11/01/d...
October 3, 2017
One of the best books I have ever read. Well researched and written, so much information on China and Australia and the relationships of over a century. The war with Japan from Australians who were in China at the time. The tragedies of the incompetent British Commanders and our own Politicians. Chinas place in today's world and so much more. A MUST READ.
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October 31, 2021Well written, but I'm not in the right mood. DNF at chapter 9.
January 30, 2025
This was a 'mystery package' book I bought years ago and quickly shelved. It chronicles Australia/China's shared history, starting from the gold rush (imo a painfully boring period of Australian history but is quite engaging in this context) to the Turnbull years.
Learned lots of fun facts: e.g. that Chinese migrants outnumbered Europeans in the NT 3 - 1 in the mid-late 1800s, that two Australian journalists were intimately involved in the collapse of the Qing dynasty, etc.
One of the better books I've read this year.
Learned lots of fun facts: e.g. that Chinese migrants outnumbered Europeans in the NT 3 - 1 in the mid-late 1800s, that two Australian journalists were intimately involved in the collapse of the Qing dynasty, etc.
One of the better books I've read this year.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews