The Prize for a First Book of History: Shortlist 2004

Judges

Michael Evans (Convenor), Robyn Annear and Stuart Macintyre

A total of 43 histories were considered, an encouraging number for this inaugural award for history. Entrants ranged from recently graduated historians to writers with established reputations in other fields publishing their first history. The judges also noted a diversity of intended audiences, but were aware of a comparative lack of works addressing younger readerships.

The judges found a consistently high standard of historical writing across entrants so that, inevitably, the task of producing a shortlist of three works was difficult and involved particular consideration of the nature and weight of scholarship appropriate to works addressing markedly different readerships.

Shortlist

Einstein’s Heroes
Robyn Arianrhod
University of Queensland Press
Einstein’s Heroes simultaneously challenges and tantalizes lay readers with the notion of mathematics possessing a language and history which can be traced through the lives of those scientists who were Einstein’s heroes. Arianrhod adroitly negotiates the daunting task of making this history accessible. In doing this she is doubly blessed with both a keenness and ability to share her enthusiasm for the subject.

The Power of Speech: Australian Prime Ministers Defining the National Image
James Curran
Melbourne University Publishing
James Curran undertakes an engaging analysis of the rhetoric used by Australian Prime Ministers to shape a sense of national identity. Through this tightly focused study Curran develops an illuminating, and at times surprising analysis that is likely to provoke readers of all political persuasions to reconsider the significance of the debate over national identity.

Unearthed: The Aboriginal Tasmanians of Kangaroo Island
Rebe Taylor
Wakefield Press
Unearthed is an impressive exploration of the history of a small community on South Australia’ Kangaroo Island, whose members included Tasmanian Aboriginals. By resolutely focusing on the personal experience of community, memory, and history, not sparing her own attitudes and assumptions, Taylor is able to get under the skin of what it means to be dispossessed.