The Murdoch Ethos: Essays in Australian history in honour of Foundation Professor Geoffrey Bolton

Abstract

Reviewing Geoffrey Bolton's life and work at Murdoch is rather like those first European attempts to describe Australia's platypus: what a complex, curious and extraordinarily energetic creature this is. Like the platypus Geoffrey Bolton defies all the convenient categories of his age. Some have labelled him a political historian, noting his interest is statues, statesmen and parliamentary intrigue Others have seen him as a champion of 'social history': a persuasive practitioner of labour history, Aboriginal history and all such 'history from below'..