<p><strong>How an ancient land became a great democracy.</strong></p>
<p><strong>'Tony Abbott should be congratulated ... This history of Australia is vivid, readable, provocative</strong><strong>' Geoffrey Blainey, historian</strong></p><p>Australia is one of the world's great success stories: a land long hidden from outsiders, chosen as a convict dumping ground, where - since 1788 - people from many backgrounds have built one of the freest, fairest and most prosperous countries on earth.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p>By the standards of a harsher time, the early governors tried to respect the original inhabitants and to encourage the convict outcasts of the British Isles to make a new start to a better life. This Indigenous heritage, British foundation and immigrant character have shaped the land of the 'fair go' especially for those willing to 'have a go'. It's not perfect, even now, yet mostly we have a history to be proud of. Within a century of settlement, Australia had not only the world's highest standard of living but had become a global pioneer for democratic freedoms such as the secret ballot, the payment of MPs and voting rights for women.</p><p>A country largely created by settlement and negotiation has evolved from 'White Australia' at the time of federation into one of the world's most colour-blind societies and has managed the transition from an old 'Anglo' identity to a civic patriotism based on an overriding commitment to Australia and its values.</p><p>This book is intended to give anyone interested - as every Australian should be - an account of our past that's positive, while not oblivious to our mistakes and imperfections as a nation. If to be an Australian is still to have won the lottery of life, the history that's produced us is surely something to savour.</p><p><strong>Now a major TV documentary </strong><strong>available to stream at Sky News Australia.</strong></p><p><strong>PRAISE</strong></p><p><em>'Tony Abbott's book is inspired by love of country, yet he comes to grip with our flaws. This is a fresh, powerful, highly readable single-volume history of Australia that deserves a wide audience' <strong>Paul Kelly, editor-at-large, The Australian</strong></em></p><p><em>'Scholarly researched, scrupulously fair-minded and very engagingly written, this is big narrative history at its best. It explains why Australia is such a wonderfully unique place, and why history is all the better when written by those who themselves helped make it' - <strong>Andrew Roberts, author, Churchill: Walking with Destiny</strong></em></p><p><em>'Not quite the "white armband" version of history I was expecting in the first half, nor a "Liberal Party highlights package" in the second half. I enjoyed reading it' - Peter FitzSimons, author, Kokoda</em></p><p><em>This is an immensely readable account of how - as I frequently call it - the "Australian Achievement" has been built' - <strong>Hon John Howard OM AC, former prime minister of Australia</strong></em></p><p><em>'Tony Abbott's latest book is a powerful antidote to the poison of little and bad history ... </em><em>we have much to be thankful for and to build on' <strong>Hon John Anderson AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia and leader of the National Party</strong></em></p><p><em>'The former prime minister has done a good job with Australia: A History' <strong>Frank Bongiorno, historian</strong></em></p><p><em>'if you have a serious interest in Australian history, the book will go on your shelves' <strong>Hon Kim Beazley AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia</strong></em></p><p><em>'Tony Abbott has written with reverence and richness, bringing our nation's past, although both painful and proud, to life with striking clarity'<strong> Nova Peris OAM OLY, first Aboriginal-Australian Olympic gold medallist and former Labor senator</strong></em></p><p><em>'This book is a compelling reminder of our inheritance, which gives us a reason to be proud of who we are and the country we've become' - <strong>Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, federal senator for Northern Territory</strong></em></p><p><em>'Tony Abbott brings history to life in a way that is both enlightening and deeply engaging' <strong>Brett Lee, former Australian international cricketer</strong></em></p><p><em>'This book helps us rediscover our past with honesty and respect, so we can better understand our present and shape a stronger, more inclusive future' <strong>Dai Le MP, independent member for Fowler</strong></em></p>
