| ISBN |
9781760890339 (hardback) |
| Name |
Blainey, Geoffrey, 1930- author. |
| Title |
Before I forget : an early memoir / Geoffrey Blainey. |
| Published |
[Hawthorn, Victoria] : Hamish Hamilton, an imprint of Penguin Random House Australia, 2019. |
| ©2019 |
| Description |
x, 339 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour), portraits ; 24 cm. |
| Notes |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Summary |
"Before I Forget is the long-awaited memoir from Professor Geoffrey Blainey -- Australia's most significant and popular historian -- that tells the story of the first forty years of his life, from his childhood to his career as historian and writer. Now in his late-eighties, and listed by the National Trust as a 'Living Treasure', in Before I Forget Geoffrey Blainey reflects on his humble beginnings as the son of a Methodist Minister and school teacher, one of five children, and a carefree childhood spent in rural Victoria, from Terang to Leongatha, Geelong to Ballarat. From a young age these places ignited for Blainey a great affection for the Australian landscape, and a deep curiosity in Australia's history...The course of Blainey's life changed when he was awarded a scholarship to board at Wesley College in Melbourne - an opportunity that instilled in him a great love of learning, under the tutelage of a group of inspiring teachers. This flourished further at the University of Melbourne, first as a wide-eyed student at Queen's Collage, where he was lectured by Manning Clarke, and later as a professor of history. Later he and Manning Clarke became great friends, both sitting on the Whitlam Government's new Literature Board. Hours spent at Melbourne's State Library as a student poring over the country's old newspapers cemented his calling to become a professional historian. Like Clarke Blainey has always been compelled to visit the places of our historical interest, including places of archaeological and Indigenous significance. Now the author of over forty books, Geoffrey Blainey claims he has discovered Australia's history his own way - and is still learning. Warm, insightful and lyrically written, Before I Forget recounts the experiences and influences that have shaped the astonishing mind of Australia's most loved historian. But in this book Blainey has given us something more - a fascinating and affectionate social history in and of itself."--Publisher's description. |
| Subjects |
Blainey, Geoffrey, -- 1930- |
| Historians -- Australia -- Biography |
| Authors -- Australia -- Biography |
| Australia -- Biography |
| Australia -- Social conditions |
| Genre |
Autobiographies |
| Links to Related Works |
Subject References:
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Authors:
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