1788

1788 chronicles Captain Arthur Phillip's voyage to establish the first European settlement in Australia. The narrative follows the First Fleet's journey from England to Botany Bay with its cargo of convicts and marines. The book documents the expedition's encounters and challenges through multiple perspectives, including officers, convicts, and Aboriginal people. Hill draws from letters, journals, and historical records to reconstruct the complexities of this pivotal year in Australian history. Hill's account encompasses both the grand scope of colonial ambition and intimate human experiences during the eight-month journey and early settlement period. The logistics of moving 1,500 people across the globe in wooden ships intersects with personal stories of survival and adaptation. The narrative illustrates themes of displacement, the collision of cultures, and humanity's capacity to persevere in extreme circumstances. The events of 1788 marked the beginning of modern Australia while raising questions about colonization that resonate today.

Readers describe this book as a detailed account of the First Fleet's journey and early colonization of Australia. The narrative incorporates primary sources like journals and letters. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of maritime terminology and naval operations - Personal stories and experiences of convicts and officers - The balanced coverage of Indigenous perspectives - Maps and illustrations that aid understanding Common criticisms: - Some sections focus too heavily on lists and technical details - The large cast of characters can be difficult to track - Early chapters move slowly before reaching Australia Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon AU: 4.3/5 (100+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Brings the voyage to life through small human details" - Goodreads reviewer "Too much emphasis on ship logistics and not enough on the human drama" - Amazon reviewer "Would have benefited from a character glossary" - Goodreads reviewer

The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes A comprehensive account of Australia's founding as a penal colony, detailing the convict transportation system and early European settlement from 1787 to 1868.

The Commonwealth of Thieves by Thomas Kenneally The story of Australia's first four years of European settlement through the experiences of both convicts and their masters.

Botany Bay: The Real Story by Alan Frost An examination of the strategic and economic reasons behind Britain's decision to establish a colony in New South Wales.

The First Fleet by Rob Mundle A narrative of the journey of eleven ships from England to Australia in 1787-88, incorporating sailors' journals and official documents.

Convict Colony by David Hill A chronicle of Sydney's first thirty years through the interconnected stories of convicts, marines, and aboriginal people who shaped the settlement's development.

🔷 David Hill spent over three years researching and writing 1788, visiting historical sites across England and Australia to create an authentic portrayal of the First Fleet's journey. 🔷 The First Fleet carried more than 1400 people on its journey, including 732 convicts, of whom 188 were women, but only about 30 were serious criminals. 🔷 The prison hulks where convicts were held before departure were actually decommissioned naval vessels, anchored in the River Thames and other ports, notorious for their horrific conditions. 🔷 The journey of the First Fleet took 252 days, covering about 15,000 miles (24,000 kilometers), yet remarkably only 48 people died during the voyage—a surprisingly low mortality rate for the time. 🔷 The book reveals that Captain Arthur Phillip had secretly been given instructions to establish a second settlement at Norfolk Island, as the British government wanted to prevent the French from claiming it for strategic purposes.