The ballad of the feathered front

While farmers successfully drove the Tasmanian tiger and many other native animals to extinction, the Great Emu War failed to eradicate emus from the wheatbelt of Western Australia in 1932, despite the best efforts of Royal Australian Artillery soldiers to mow down the flightless birds with lewis guns.

The legend of Troy

While its historical accuracy will always be disputed, the endless interpretations of the siege of Troy in both literature and art can show courage and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of the worst of adversities.

Uncovering the shroud of Turin

There’s nothing new about ‘deep fakes’, and the middle ages were rife with forged religious memorabilia, the most famous of which remains the Shroud of Turin.

War? What war?

A new survey has revealed younger generations’ shocking levels of ignorance about military and Australian history, with around 50% of under-30s never having heard of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour or the dropping of the atomic bombs to end the Pacific War.

Reclaiming VP Day

Victory in the Pacific Day commemorates Emperor Hirohito’s national radio broadcast on 15 August 1945 admitting Japan’s defeat and offers a chance to reinforce the values the allies fought for.

The quivering of the Earth

The recent earthquake and tsunami alert north of Japan has reminded us again of the power of such natural disasters, and their effects on human history – not least in ancient Greece and Rome.

In praise of John Hirst

John Hirst was a rigorous historian, independent thinker and passionate believer in Australia and a new edition of his selected writings underlines his commitment to intelligent and informed debate.

The race to know all life

Jason Roberts’ “Every Living Thing – The Great and Deadly Race to Know all Life” is an engrossing, precisely researched book on the lives of Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) and the Compte de Buffon (1707-1788) and their contributions to what became evolutionary science.

Under the same moon

Peter Mitchell’s new novel explores Australia’s plight during mid-WW2 as Japan wreaked havoc through the Asia-Pacific, and prompts the question of our preparedness today as China pursues regional domination.

The last king of Queensland

A new documentary film “Joh: The Last King of Queensland” offers a dramatised account of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s premiership from 1968 to 1987.

Sport for all

There’s nothing new about our modern love of playing and watching sports, with ancient depictions of ball games dating back into antiquity.

The age of revolutions

Fareed Zakaria’s new book explores how periods of rapid economic and technological change often unleash cultural anxiety and political backlash.