From the first novel published in mainland Australia in 1838, women have been writing it for themselves. Among them are poets, prolific novelists such as Rosa Praed, and botanists like Louisa Atkinson. From household names to obscurity, A Bright and Fiery Troop rediscovers the rich treasures of Australia’s literary tradition. It is the first critical analysis of the major Australian women...

Based on the highly successful ABC television documentary of the same name, this book excavates the history of thousands of women who worked on farms during World War II. City-bred, in the main, and only reluctantly taken on by farming communities, the women proved themselves to be tough, resourceful and indefatigable workers whose efforts kept Australian agriculture alive at a critical time. ...