Vandemonian War

Governments and others succeeded in burying the real story of the Vandemonian War for nearly two centuries. And historians failed to see through the myths and lies until now. This is the story of how the British truly occupied Van Diemen’s Land, deploying regimental soldiers and special forces, armed convicts and mercenaries. In the 1820s and 1830s the British deliberately pushed the Aboriginal people out, driving them to the edge of existence. Far from being localised fights between farmers and hunters of popular memory, this was a bigger war of sweeping campaigns and brutal tactics, waged by military and paramilitary forces subject to a Lieutenant Governor who was also Colonel Commanding. This is the story of an empire conquering an island and calling it settlement. Dr Nick Brodie is an historian, archaeologist, and writer. Nick’s previous books, Kin and 1787: The lost chapters of Australia’s beginnings, have both been published to critical acclaim. PRAISE FOR 1787:‘1787 does not stand for a year it stands for an idea. This is the sweeping story of Greater Australasia and its peoples, a long-overdue challenge to the myth that Australia’s story started in 1788.’ Books & Publishing ‘This is a fascinating story that engagingly details the stories and encounters in our history long before the British were bound for Botany Bay.’ Daily Review ‘… it is history incisive, provocative, meticulously researched at its best.’ The Guardian