Thursday, 5 July 2007

The Australian national character will come under the microscope at The University of Western Australia next week.

Dr John Hirst’s lecture for UWA’s Institute of Advanced Studies, ‘The Australians: Insiders and Outsiders on the National Character since 1770’, will be held in the Social Sciences Lecture Theatre at 6pm, Tuesday, July 10, 2007.

In his lecture, Dr Hirst will consider the key assessments of the national character of Australia and the ways in which insiders and outsiders summed up this country and its inhabitants, as well its responses to outside criticism.

He provides a set of introductory essays to accompany his selections. Contributors include Winston Churchill, Tim Flannery, Henry Lawson, Germaine Greer, Captain James Cook, Charles Dickens, Barry Humphries, H.G. Wells, Peter Cosgrove, Jackie Huggins, David Malouf and many more.

Dr Hirst is a widely respected historian and social commentator who teaches Australian social and political history and European history at La Trobe University in Victoria. He is the author of several books, including "Convict Society and Its Enemies", "The Sentimental Nation, A Republican Manifesto, Australia's Democracy", and the best selling "Sense & Nonsense in Australian History" (Black Inc, 2006).

This lecture follows the July publication of Dr Hirst's book "The Australians: Insiders and Outsiders on the National Character since 1770". The book will be available for sale and signing by the Co-op Bookshop.

For more information, contact the Institute of Advanced Studies on 6488 1340 or email [email protected]

Media references

Milka Bukilic 61 8 6488 1340
(IAS)

Simone Hewett / Francesca Robb 61 8 6488 7977
(UWA Public Affairs) 0420 790 097 / 0420 790 098

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