"...in this path-breaking book, if we broaden our gaze, our story will widen. If we follow Brodie's sage advice, we are compelled, as readers and writers, to look beyond "the 'discovery-then-settlement' triumphalist children's tale we have been fed for several generations". This will surely lead us to a more inclusive understanding of Australasia's collective past and path, he argues." Ross Fitgerald, The Sydney Morning Herald " 1787 does not stand for a year-it stands for an idea. This is the sweeping story of Greater Australasia and its peoples, a long-overdue challenge to the myth that Australia's story started in 1788." Books & Publishing "..Brodie's accessible writing is not about voyages of "discovery" to Australia but about the big picture of the rise and fall of empires, the shifts in global economies and their impact on Australia. This is a fascinating story that engagingly details the stories and encounters in our history - long before the British were bound for Botany Bay." Daily Review "There's not room here to expound on its achievements, except to say that it is history - incisive, provocative, meticulously researched - at its best." - The Guardian

Dr Nicolas Brodie is a historian and qualified archaeologist. He has written a history of St Mary's Cathedral, alongside several other academic papers, and is an experienced public speaker, having lectured at the University of Tasmania and Cambridge and given interviews on ABC radio and 7.30 Stateline. Nick Brodie's book Kin was published in July 2015 and received excellent reviews.