Alumni Travel Reading: Australia & New Zealand

In this fantasy adventure book, Thomas Allen tells the story of the invasion of New Zealand by mammals and other outsiders through an avian society modeled after the Maori. Through the eyes of the "Walkers and Flyers" -- flightless and non-flightless birds -- we come to see the hardships presented to native wildlife by invasive species. Readers will follow Eldest with Feathers, a wise Kakapo, while he attempts to warn the island about the intruders.

New Zealand is known for having many unique and endangered birds, unlike those found anywhere else. The color-photographs and detailed descriptions in this guide will help you become better acquainted with the numerous species you will encounter

Many of us learned to love the landscape of New Zealand watching the Lord of the Rings films. Brookings and Pawson jolt us from our reverie on all those green hillsides by explaining that this landscape is a product of empire—a project not only of people but of the natural setting. Most of the green grasses of New Zealand are transplants from the British landscape. What does this mean for the long term health of the environment? Brooking and Pawson are also the editors of “Environmental Histories of New Zealand” (2002) Oxford University.

From the publisher: “"A journey into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, as experienced by explorers, scientists, and artists The Great Barrier Reef is the most spectacular marine environment on earth, a true wonder of the world. Yet the history of our encounters with it has long been elusive. In The Reef, the acclaimed historian and explorer Iain McCalman recounts in full the dramatic story of the reef and the people who have been captivated by it for two centuries.”

Prolific and versatile author Thomas Keneally writes about two sisters from Austrialia who escape their restricted life on the family farm to serve as nurses in World War I. They are exposed to horrors of the battlefield, but in the midst of inspiring colleagues find their own strength to work in conditions they could never have anticipated.

Anthropologist and museum curator Archie Meek sees something amiss with the famous Venus Island Fetish, the center piece of this anthropological murder mystery. Perfect for moments of relaxation amidst your travels.

"Brought to Light" is a book on the Australian Art Collection of the Queensland Art Gallery, from 1850 to 1965. Over 60 essays discuss select works, teaching readers about the art, social contexts, and historical periods from when they were created.

A sequel to "Brought to Light," this book follows the same model as its predecessor, but presents contemporary Australian Art.

This exhibition catalog displays art made by the indigenous people of Australia, from the collection of the Essl Museum in Klosterneuburg, Austria. The Essl Museum houses one of the most significant collections of Aboriginal Art in Europe.

This book offers an introduction to the study of Maori culture through art and domestic products produced by the Maori and owned by the British Museum. The British Museum boasts one of the largest collections of Maori artifacts outside of New Zealand.

Offered here is an extensive and detailed history of the diverse architectural styles of New Zealand. All styles are covered, from early Maori dwellings to post-modern 1980s.

Gatley and Walker share the story of the Architectural Centre, a nonprofit organization that furthered architectural education and fought for better planning and design in New Zealand's capital city. The Centre's activists, students, and teachers greatly influenced the remaking of Wellington.

From the publisher: "Funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity. 'In A Sunburned Country' is Bill Bryson's report on what he found in...Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet."

On any trip to Australia travelers will encounter numerous one-of-a-kind mammal species calling the continent home. This field guide will provide details needed to identify the mammals you will see.

A cultural history of the family meal in Australia focused on the role of chicken.

Mark Peel and Christina Twomey provide an engaging overview of the country's past to the great migrations of recent centuries to those living within the more anxiously controlled borders of the present day.

Migration, emigration, and relocation are very much a part of the history of humanity and of its present. Australia, not unlike the United States, is a country with a checkered pattern of immigration policies that have opened and closed doors at different times to different peoples. This book takes a rich interdisciplinary approach to the study of migration, especially with regard to Australia. One reviewer writes that the book “is focused on the way in which migration has been experienced and responded to in Australia” but it also has “relevance to the understanding of migration in any national setting.”

This highly acclaimed and widely read book from the 1980s describes the transportation of men, women and children out of 18th Century England to Australia. Read this with Australia: A Biography of a Nation by Phillip Knight which traces the modern history of Australia from a nation of convicts, through its traumatic experiences in World War I and World War II, its move away from its colonial status with England to the present day.

The Aboriginal people of Australia began demanding political rights during the 1970s under the pressures of social fragmentation, high unemployment, and economic and political changes. Protests were often violent and created antagonism between law enforcement and the Aboriginal population. Amidst the chaos and hostility, Australians were confronted with the realities of a post-settler colonial society and the consequences of undermining indigenous rights.

A look at the Australia's Northern Territory and government efforts to improve opportunities for the health, safety, and education of its indigenous people. Explores the disadvantage faced by native Australians and how existing polices have failed them.

Karen Fox explores how Maori and Aboriginal women were portrayed in the media during the second half of the twentieth century. Her book highlights well-known women indigenous to Australia and New Zealand, and how media can shape lives and communities.