No comments about Learning from the Land.

1 comments about Carlino Polia Esq.: An Australian Gentleman, Era 1855-1913: A Faction Book with Photographs (Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science).

1. The "Quay" Level 23 2 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000.

   I thoroughly enjoyed "Carlino Polia Esq." Australian Gentleman, which is a delightful romp through Australian history. My wife and I along with our four children, are business migrants to Australia. Of all the books and magazines given to us by the Australian government in the program, Carlino Polia Esq. shed more light and resolved more questions about Australia. Two of our children, aged 22 and 19, had difficulty putting your book down. They both read to the early hours of the morning enthralled by your yarn and the actual events. When we visit America after emigrating to Australia, we are often besieged with questions about Australia. It is Amazing how little Americans know about Australia in spite of the experiences of world war II. Carlino Polia Esq. relates experiences of the early auto industry not at all unlike that of my family in Cleveland, Ohio which had 22 automobile companies headquartered there prior to World War I. As an attorney who has acquired property in over 30 states in the United States, these sections on Australian property transfer were very enlightening. Over and over again you very subtly bring home to our children that education combined with experience and ethics will likely be rewarded with a quality of life. Again, my ancestors in America cherished the same values as Carlino Polia. I strongly urge you to find an American book distributor. There is a strong likelihood once Carlino Polia is reviewed, it will be well received and movie/TV rights will be sought from you. I could see Carlino Polia Esq. in a TV series, especially in commemoration of Sydney 2000. Just yesterday The Australian newspaper had an opinion column stating "Shrimp on the barbie" and "Crocodile Dundee" image of Australia has overridden the millions of dollars of government ads trying to re-image Australia as a global competitor in complex industries. Maybe tracing Australia's roots through Carlino Polia Esq. is a better antidote to the Mad Maxes and Bushwacker string of movies and books that seem to define Australia to America and other parts of the world. Carlino's involvement with the young artists, taking his paintings to a soirée, a good golfer, then his appearance in white tie and tails with a top hat, tells of Sydney with a sophisticated cultural society from the early 1900s; not much different to that in New York London or Paris at that time.

   Wishing you the best for your book and in finding a distributor in America.

   John Wagner. B.A.(Econ), L.L.B. The "Quay" Level 23 2 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000.

No comments about Sir James Cockle: First Chief Justice of Queensland 1863-1879 / J.M. Bennett; Foreword, B.H. McPherson (Lives of the Australian Chief Justices).

No comments about Blamey Controversial Soldier. A biography of Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey.

2 comments about The Pauline Hanson Story: By the Man Who Knows.

1. Summary: Written by the ex-adviser of Pauline Hanson ( Australias version of the KKK's Grand Dragon ), this book is worth reading only for the insight it gives into the internal functioning of a far right wing party.

   A little background: Pauline Hanson brought the politics of race to Australia. Her party One Nation ( why do racist parties have Nat* ) in their names ?) briefly appeared electorally viable before it disintegrated due to infighting. Her anti-Aboriginal and anti-Asian policies were taken onboard by the current ruling party and have now unfortunately become mainstream politics in Australia. Indeed, Australia's Prime Minister of the day, John Howard is probably her most successful and most highly visible disciple.

   The Author: Pauline changes political advisers the way we change trousers: almost daily. Pasq was once a highly placed Pauline advisor. Yes, he knows... He is also guilty of having helped her formulate many of her most populist policies. Pasquarelli now works for another Australian politician , Graeme Campbell of the National Party (yes another Nat* party with all that it implies )

   Ultimately, this book is worth reading only for the insight it gives into the internal functioning of a far right wing party.

   Give it a miss....




2. Before reading this book, I had assumed that books on Pauline Hanson and her affect on Australian politics, could appeal only to either the pro or the anti. Pasquarelli, Pauline Hanson's former adviser, proves otherwise. This book, written with wit and intelligence would be thoroughly enjoyed by ANY Australian who has an opinion of Pauline Hanson - whether it be positive or negative. As well as providing entertainment in the form of somewhat "snide" gossip, it also opened my eyes to a lot of issues and concerns that have been raised by Pauline Hanson over the past 3 years.

   All in all - a fantastic read.

No comments about Roy de Maistre Australian Years.

No comments about Tales of the Austral Tropics (The Colonial Texts Series, 5).

No comments about Witi Ihimaera: A Changing Vision (Te Whenua Series No. 7).

No comments about Judah Waten: Selected Works (UQP Australian Authors).

No comments about Peter Carey (Contemporary World Writers).