Black Founders: The Unknown Story of Australia’s First Black Settlers

In this compelling new book, distinguished historian and writer Cassandra Pybus reveals that black convicts were among our first fleet settlers—a fact which profoundly complicates our understanding of race relations in early colonial Australia. Most of these black founders were originally slaves from America who had sought freedom with the British during the American Revolution only to find themselves abandoned and unemployed in England when the war was over. Pybus’ stories include the notorious runaway ‘Black Caesar’, who became our first bushranger, and the wonderfully subversive Billie Blue, who was the first ferryman on Sydney Harbour, after whom Blues Point is named.

Publisher: UNSW Press

Date Published: 2006 (1^st Ed.)

Book Condition: Very good soft cover showing minor edge wear and corner bumping to covers. There is an ex-libris stamp of the previous owner to bottom right corner of the first two pages. Otherwise, a fine copy internally.

ISBN: 0868408492