Matthew Flinders

A wildly funny and meticulously researched reexamination of the life of explorer Matthew Flinders, as Shaun Micallef charts the chaos, comedy and contradictions behind the founding of Australia.

Who was Matthew Flinders? A pioneer who gave Australia its name but chose to name nothing after himself. A dreamer obsessed with Robinson Crusoe who wound up imprisoned on an island for six years. A leader who captained a stout and loyal crew but preferred spending time with his cat. An explorer who charted a continent but had a side-hustle collecting human skulls. A hero who wasn’t all that heroic.

The story of Matthew Flinders, like the story of Colonial Australia, is one of tragic lows and high comedy, of embarrassment, shame and humiliation.

Enter Shaun Micallef to tell this tale as it has never been told (but probably should have): with both meticulous research and an overweening sense of the ridiculous. As he charts Flinders’ chaotic route around Australia and beyond, Micallef asks bigger questions about who we are as a country and what it means to hold onto a legacy in an ever-changing-its-mind world.

Historically accurate and surprisingly enlightening, this book is a fresh and funny exploration of a foundational story of Australia.

• Format: Hardback
• Pages: 352
• Imprint: Affirm Press
• Supplier: Harper Entertainment Distribution Services
• Subjects: Code HIS004000 (scheme 10), Code BIO006000 (scheme 10), Code HUM022000 (scheme 10), Code BGH (scheme 12), Code HBJM (scheme 12), Code WHX (scheme 12), Australian history; colonial Australia; Australian explorers; exploration of Australia; maritime history; funny history books; humorous history; comic nonfiction; satirical history; Australian biography; historical biography; Australian comedy writing; history with humour; Captain Matthew Flinders; Australian identity; Australian colonial history; exploration and discovery; narrative history; history lovers; fans of Girt; David Hunt; fans of Unruly; David Mitchell; humorous Australian books; Australian nonfiction; British explorers; voyages and expeditions; Australian founding stories; history satire; comedic biography; Australian cultural history; historical humour; explorer biography; true stories from history; funny nonfiction books; Australian authors; bestselling Australian humour; cat-loving explorers; gifts for dads; gifts for history buffs; Father’s Day gifts for men; gifts for men who love history; funny gifts for dads; Australian gift books for men, Code NHM (scheme 93), Code DNBH (scheme 93), Code WH (scheme 93), Code NHTQ (scheme 93), Code DNXH (scheme 93)