Cirrus@Austlit

'When Mulanyin meets the beautiful Nita in Edenglassie, their saltwater people still outnumber the British. As colonial unrest peaks, Mulanyin dreams of taking his bride home to Yugambeh Country, but his plans for independence collide with white justice.

'Two centuries later, fiery activist Winona meets Dr Johnny. Together they care for obstinate centenarian Grannie Eddie, and sparks fly, but not always in the right direction. What nobody knows is how far the legacies of the past will reach into their modern lives.

'In this brilliant epic, Melissa Lucashenko torches Queensland’s colonial myths, while reimagining an Australian future.' (Publication summary)

'I ACKNOWLEDGE the Ngunnawal and Ngambri traditional owners, and their Elders past and present. I thank them for their hospitality and care of Country.

'Speech is silver but silence is golden so I'll make this address short.

'I woke up in my hotel this morning and saw Parliament House outside my window, with the blue Australian ensign flying in the breeze. A glorious sight to many. But for an Aboriginal person, especially a cultural Aboriginal person. the sight gave me no thrill.' (Introduction)

'If you know Bruce Pascoe’s name it’s probably because of Dark Emu, his bestseller that exploded the myth that Australian civilisation began with the British. But Uncle Bruce was writing and publishing for decades before he turned our idea of Australian agriculture sideways. His new book, Salt, brings together the finest of his lifetime’s work. It contains 10 new short stories along with some previously published gems, and some of the best essays on Australia I ever hope to read.'  (Introduction)

'So I'm at Brisbane airport the other morning ay, no other blackfellas in sight. And there's this wanker in front of me in the queue, giving everyone in earshot the shits. The queue was slow as, after the night I'd had with Tracy mob staying. Musta had four hours sleep, tops. And this dugai's standing there with his neck bright red underneath the world's shortest haircut and he's on the phone talking about the weekend at Bribie Island. Well, talking - more like broadcasting.'  (Publication abstract)