Forgotten War

Forgotten War examines the frontier conflicts between European settlers and Indigenous Australians from 1788 to the 1920s. Author Henry Reynolds presents historical records and primary sources to document the violence and warfare that occurred during Australia's colonization. The book analyzes military tactics, casualty numbers, and resistance strategies used by both sides during these territorial battles. Reynolds draws on government documents, settler accounts, and Indigenous oral histories to reconstruct the scope and scale of the fighting. This work challenges the traditional narrative of peaceful settlement in Australia by focusing on armed conflict and organized resistance. The research covers multiple regions and time periods to build a comprehensive picture of frontier warfare across the continent. The book raises questions about national identity, historical memory, and how societies choose which wars to commemorate versus which to forget. By reframing colonial expansion as a military campaign, it offers new perspectives on Australian history and contemporary debates about recognition and reconciliation.

Readers appreciate Reynolds' detailed research and documentation of frontier conflicts between Indigenous Australians and European settlers. Many note the book fills gaps in Australian historical knowledge and challenges sanitized versions of colonial history. Readers highlight: - Clear presentation of casualty numbers and statistics - Integration of primary sources and archival evidence - Connection to modern reconciliation efforts Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult to follow - Some readers find the tone accusatory - Repetition of key points Ratings: Goodreads: 4.15/5 (105 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.3/5 (32 ratings) Sample review: "Reynolds backs up his arguments with extensive research but the academic language made it hard going at times" - Goodreads reviewer Another reader notes: "Important history that should be taught in schools, though the writing is dry" - Amazon AU reviewer The book receives higher ratings from academic readers compared to general audience reviewers.

The Other Side of the Frontier by Henry Reynolds A historical examination of Aboriginal resistance to British colonization in Australia from 1788-1930.

Frontier Justice by Tony Roberts A detailed account of the Northern Territory frontier wars and settler violence against Indigenous Australians in the late 1800s.

Conquest: A New History of the Modern World by David Day An analysis of colonization and dispossession across multiple continents with focus on Australia's frontier conflicts.

Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe A reexamination of colonial accounts revealing complex Aboriginal land management and food production systems before European settlement.

The Black War by Nicholas Clements A study of the conflict between British colonists and Aboriginal people in Van Diemen's Land between 1825 and 1831.

🔹 Henry Reynolds, one of Australia's most prominent historians, faced significant backlash and criticism after publishing this book, as it challenged many long-held beliefs about colonial settlement. 🔹 The book reveals that the number of frontier conflict deaths in Australia (at least 30,000 Indigenous people) is comparable to Australian military casualties in World War I. 🔹 The term "Forgotten War" refers to the frontier conflicts between European settlers and Indigenous Australians that lasted approximately 150 years, yet were largely omitted from official histories. 🔹 Reynolds uncovered that many colonial police forces essentially functioned as paramilitary units, conducting armed campaigns against Aboriginal people that were rarely documented in official records. 🔹 The book won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2014, helping to spark a national conversation about the need to recognize frontier violence in Australia's official war memorial institutions.