The Road to Botany Bay

The Road to Botany Bay, first published in 1987 and considered a classic in the field of cultural and historical geography, examines the poetic constitution of colonial society. Through a far-reaching exploration of Australia’s mapping, narrative description, early urbanism, and bush mythology, Paul Carter exposes the mythopoetic mechanisms of empire. A powerfully written account of the ways in which language, history, and geography influenced the territorial theater of nineteenth-century imperialism, the book is also a call to think, write, and live differently.

Contents, List of Illustrations, Acknowledgements, Introduction, 1 An Outline of Names, 2 An Airy Barrier, 3 The Charm of Novelty, 4 Triangles of Life, 5 Debatable Land, 6 A Thorny Passage, 7 Elysiums for Gentlemen, 8 A More Pleasing Prospect, 9 Intimate Charm, 10 The Road to Botany Bay, 11 A Wandering State, Notes, Index