Drought Country

An exploration of Australia's harsh climate, weaving historical accounts with scientific theory.

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Droughts have lurked behind Australia's major nation-shaping moments from European settlement at Port Jackson to Federation. They have caused catastrophic damage to Aboriginal, colonial and modern societies and, of course, to the very land itself. Indeed, by depriving us of water, that element most fundamental to life, droughts cut to the very essence of living in Australia.

Weaving historical accounts with scientific theory, Robert Godfree will take you on a journey through the most brutal Australian droughts of the past three centuries, encountering mythmaking, colonialism, smallpox, economic depression, a 'dust bowl', heatwaves, ecosystem collapse and the coming of the second 'age of coal'. With analysis and insights informed by his childhood in rural Australia and career in research science, he reflects on the choices made during each of these crises and looks to the future of what is becoming a more volatile and human-dominated continent.

Drought Country is a timely exploration of this continent's harsh climate, providing useful insights for land managers, the scientific community, environmentalists and general readers.