Welcome! I am a historian of the eighteenth-century world, particularly the British Empire and the many indigenous societies it encountered. I also have interests in visual history, anthropological history, experimental uses of biography, and issues surrounding higher education and the humanities. On this site you’ll find links to my historical writing, reflections on my historical reading, and discussions of various historical engagements (oh, and an unlikely page on swimming).
Recent Posts
More Reflections
When writing up my Spit chapter in 2016 I took the plunge to reconnect with my old coach, Scott Wilson, for the first time in 20 years … It has been wonderful to stay in touch ever since. During COVID he had the brilliant idea to create a site for many different kinds of swimming … Continue reading More Reflections
Talking on Late Night Live
Amidst worsening news in the world, it was nice to talk history for 20 minutes at least. Click here for my interview with Phillip Adams on his ABC Radio Late Night Live Show. #eighteenthcentury #indigenousexperiences #empire
Cook Revisited at SLQ
Really enjoyed speaking virtually through COVID with Paul Barclay, Kate Darian Smith and Alison Paige about recent reflections on Cook. Alison was the Indigenous filmmaker for the National Museum during its Cook extravaganza and created amazing work for it – still viewable online. Kate DS has written extensively on Cook commemoration. I was invited to … Continue reading Cook Revisited at SLQ
A seminar on WVA…
COVID 19 mostly wrecked havoc on my teaching, research, and everyday life…but the silver linings have been attending international seminars where the borders suddenly don’t matter. I was delighted in late May to “attend” a seminar at the University of Kent’s new Centre for Indigenous and Settler Colonial Studies. The lead discussant, Sarah Smeed, wrote … Continue reading A seminar on WVA…
