Cirrus@Austlit

'An amusing look at the alternative paths that Australian history might have taken.

'The What If histories of Australia imagines a very different history of Australia, where the unexpected happens in unexpected ways. Starting by defining the real histories, the book then looks at possible paths of different settlements that history could have taken.

'What if Captain Cook’s ship had sunk when it hit the Great Barrier Reef in 1770? And what if he never got back to England with his charts and claim on the land? What if the French settled Australia first, and eventually both King Louis 16th and Napoleon ended up in exile here, fighting over who was the rightful ruler in exile? This What If histories of Australia imagines a very different history of Australia, where the unexpected happens in unexpected ways.' (Publication summary)

'An amusing look at the alternative paths that Australian history might have taken in Australia's Gold Rush.

'The What If histories of Australia imagines a very different history of Australia, where the unexpected happens in unexpected ways. Starting by defining the real histories, the book then looks at possible paths of different settlements that history could have taken. 

'Gold Fever is what makes ordinary people act like completely crazy people .  And there are plenty of examples of that in this book!

' We all know that gold makes people act a bit crazy – but imagine just how crazy things would be if the 19th Century Australian colonies were all run by different countries. The French in modern day Victoria and British in modern day New South Wales would be busy coming up with crazy plans to steal each other’s gold. And indigenous people, diggers and bushrangers would have their own plans as to who should get the gold. As would a peculiar bushranger in armour, with plans to start a new Irish republic. 

' A very different and amusing history of Australia, where the unexpected happens in unexpected ways.'  (Publication summary)