HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

How an ancient land became a great democracy. Longlisted for Best Non Fiction in the Indie Book Awards 2026 'Tony Abbott should be congratulated ... This history of Australia is vivid, readable, provocative' Geoffrey Blainey, historian'I think it's very good' Tom Holland, historianAustralia is one of the world's great success stories: a land long hidden from outsiders, chosen as a convict dumping ground, where - since 1788 - people from many backgrounds have built one of the freest, fairest and most prosperous countries on earth. By the standards of a harsher time, the early governors tried to respect the original inhabitants and to encourage the convict outcasts of the British Isles to make a new start to a better life. This Indigenous heritage, British foundation and immigrant character have shaped the land of the 'fair go' especially for those willing to 'have a go'. It's not perfect, even now, yet mostly we have a history to be proud of. Within a century of settlement, Australia had not only the world's highest standard of living but had become a global pioneer for democratic freedoms such as the secret ballot, the payment of MPs and voting rights for women. A country largely created by settlement and negotiation has evolved from 'White Australia' at the time of federation into one of the world's most colour-blind societies and has managed the transition from an old 'Anglo' identity to a civic patriotism based on an overriding commitment to Australia and its values. This book is intended to give anyone interested - as every Australian should be - an account of our past that's positive, while not oblivious to our mistakes and imperfections as a nation. If to be an Australian is still to have won the lottery of life, the history that's produced us is surely something to savour. Now a major TV documentary available to stream at Sky News Australia. PRAISE'Tony Abbott's book is inspired by love of country, yet he comes to grip with our flaws. This is a fresh, powerful, highly readable single-volume history of Australia that deserves a wide audience' Paul Kelly, editor-at-large, The Australian'Scholarly researched, scrupulously fair-minded and very engagingly written, this is big narrative history at its best. It explains why Australia is such a wonderfully unique place, and why history is all the better when written by those who themselves helped make it' - Andrew Roberts, author, Churchill: Walking with Destiny'Not quite the "white armband" version of history I was expecting in the first half, nor a "Liberal Party highlights package" in the second half. I enjoyed reading it' - Peter FitzSimons, author, KokodaThis is an immensely readable account of how - as I frequently call it - the "Australian Achievement" has been built' - Hon John Howard OM AC, former prime minister of Australia'Tony Abbott's latest book is a powerful antidote to the poison of little and bad history ... we have much to be thankful for and to build on' Hon John Anderson AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia and leader of the National Party'The former prime minister has done a good job with Australia: A History' Frank Bongiorno, historian'if you have a serious interest in Australian history, the book will go on your shelves' Hon Kim Beazley AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia'Tony Abbott has written with reverence and richness, bringing our nation's past, although both painful and proud, to life with striking clarity' Nova Peris OAM OLY, first Aboriginal-Australian Olympic gold medallist and former Labor senator'This book is a compelling reminder of our inheritance, which gives us a reason to be proud of who we are and the country we've become' - Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, federal senator for Northern Territory'Tony Abbott brings history to life in a way that is both enlightening and deeply engaging' Brett Lee, former Australian international cricketer'This book helps us rediscover our past with honesty and respect, so we can better

A wartime betrayal, a race against time ... and a secret hidden in a painting.The must-read new novel from the author of The French Agent and White Gardenia. Paris 1946: A young woman, Eve Archer, has come to Paris to find Serge Lavertu, the father she never knew. But before Eve can find the courage to tell him who she is, Serge is arrested, accused of selling a French national treasure to Hitler during the war and murdering the original owner. Could Serge truly be guilty of treason or has he been set u? nly one person knows the truth that might save Serge from execution: Kristina Belova, a beautiful Russian artist recently returned from a concentration camp and suffering amnesia. As Eve desperately prompts Kristina to recall what happened during the war, she uncovers a passionate love triangle and a secret about her own heritage that will change Eve's view of life forever. 'The Masterpiece is a triumph of storytelling. Its descriptions are painterly and its characters fascinating. With Paris, art, spirited women and so many tantalising secrets hiding in its pages, The Masterpiece is certain to be one of the big books of the year' Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre'Belinda Alexandra is a master at keeping the pages turning' Herald Sun'Alexandra excels at creating compelling female characters and placing them in richly imagined settings' The Australian

Why motherhood makes us angry and what to do about it. Why are so many women overcome with rage when they become mothers - at their partners, their children, even themselves? Is it hormonal, a loss of control, lack of sleep? And why aren't we talking about i? auren Novak takes readers on a candid journey through her own instances of mum rage and explores the raw and often unspoken emotions that many other mothers go through. In delving into the physical, psychological and societal pressures that contribute to these intense feelings, she reveals just how common maternal anger is. Yet Lauren also offers hope - and reassurance. With a blend of humour, understanding and insight, she breaks the silence around this taboo topic and provides practical advice and effective strategies for those of us struggling with such overwhelming emotions. This book will resonate with so many mums and is a vital resource for anyone grappling with the complexities of motherhood and the powerful feelings it can incite.

The companion volume to YOUNG HAWKE: the making of a larrikin from the award-winning historian and author of CURTIN and CHIFLEY Bob Hawke was one of the most influential Australians of the twentieth century, firstly as Australia's most powerful trade union leader in the 1970s before becoming the longest serving Labor prime minister in the 1980s. The government of this formerly hard-drinking womaniser did much to transform the Australian economy, reorient Australian foreign policy towards Asia and introduce groundbreaking social welfare measures, including Medicare, and did much to promote the advancement of women. After the difficult years of the late 70s and early 80s, it was a time of renewed confidence that was exemplified by the winning of the America's Cup and the celebration of Australia's Bicentenary. It was also a time of national introspection, with the demand for a treaty with the Aborigines, the 75th anniversary of Gallipoli and the questioning of Australian identity. Bob Hawke was at the centre of it all, and for much of his time in office enjoyed an unprecedented level of popularity. But there was a prime minister-in-waiting who was intent on taking his position and a difficult family life that contrasted with the public image. This is the definitive biography of one of Australia's most important prime ministers.

A highly designed, colourful picture book aimed at celebrating traditional names of well-known Australian places such as Gadigal (Sydney) and Lunawuni (Bruny Island), from a popular breakthrough Indigenous artist. I wanted to travel this place to hear some of its old stories ... to learn. Laugh joyfully like a kookaburra in Canberra. Watch your toes turn red in Rubibi. And walk soft under the bunya pines in Meeanjin. From Gudanji/Wakaja artist Ryhia Dank comes Learning Country, a vibrant and contemporary picture book that celebrates the traditional names of well-known Australian places.

When do you stop starting over? The sparkling new novel from the author of No Hard Feelings. Getting over someone is not that difficult. All you have to do is focus on every negative thing about them for the rest of your life until you forget to stop actively hoping for their slow and painful death, then get a haircut ... Serial monogamist Marnie is running late to her own identity crisis. After a decade of twisting herself into different versions of the ideal girlfriend, she's swearing off relationships for good. Forever. Done. No more, no thank you. Pretty inconvenient time to meet Isaac: certified dreamboat and the only man who has ever truly got her. It's cool, though, they're just friends, he's got someone else, and she has more important things to worry about. Like who she is, what she wants, and what the hell she ever saw in the love(s) of her life in the first place. Flanked by overwhelmed new mum Nicola, terminally single Claud, and eternal pessimist Kit, Marnie reckons with the question: who are we when we're on our ow? raise for Crushing:'Crushing stings with truth and aches with hope. I loved it.' Jessica Dettmann'A sharp, funny and biting exploration of a classic millennial existential crisis ... with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments' Books+Publishing'A sexy, complex, bittersweet dark chocolate souffle of a book: airily paced, tartly funny, and with a romantic centre that's just gooey enough' Clare Fletcher'Bingeable, sharply written, and hilarious, Crushing had me hooked from the first page. This book is filled with love, rage, and wisdom, and reading it felt like having a wine with a best friend.' Victoria Brookman, author of Burnt OutPraise for No Hard Feelings:'Funny, biting, vulnerable and unflinching, Novak's novel is like an ocean dip: a bit salty, very refreshing' Lauren Sams'No Hard Feelings is clever, funny and surprisingly sweet, and Penny captured my heart' Toni Jordan'Wry and witty' Saturday Age

Benjamin Stevenson meets Nine Perfect Strangers in a story about writerly ambition, self-discovery and - of course - revenge. Sharp, fresh, bold, thrilling and gothic - gripping suspense from a spectacular new Australian talent. An opportunity a writer would die for ... Desley Barron is ready to prove her doubters, and herself, wrong about her flagging writing career. She's won a spot at an exclusive writing retreat in the Blue Mountains. Only instead of feeling creative, Desley finds her insecurity increases while the ghost stories about the house have her jumping at shadows. This secluded house is the last place anyone will think to look for high-profile author Colette Halifax, which is perfect as she hides from a looming scandal. Unfortunately, someone here is threatening to ruin the one part of her life that isn't already a shambles. Meanwhile, Maia McKenzie has plans that don't involve writing at all. She's schemed to ensure the one person she wants to see is here - the man who almost killed her mother. All have a secret. All will do anything to keep it hidden. And they're not alone. The retreat is perched on the edge of a forest steeped in the horrors of Australia's worst serial killer - and no one knows just who is watching. When a storm unleashes its fury and they're trapped, a body is left in the snow ... and any one of them could be next. PRAISE:'Gilchrist hooked me good and proper. Creepy closed-in setting? Enough secrets and suspense to fill a body bag? Twisty narratives and the twisted psyches of we writers who weave them? Yes, don't mind if I do! I could check out from The Final Chapter any time I liked, but I could never leave. What a cracking mystery debut!' Trent Dalton 'A pacy and unpredictable thriller, dripping with atmosphere and sharp observations. With an eerie isolated house and the deteriorating relationships between a cast of distinct and nuanced characters, each with their own agenda, the stage is set for a page-turning, chill-inducing gallop to the finish line.' - Jo Dixon, author of A Shadow at the Door and The House of Now and Then'This story of writers-behaving-badly on a deadly retreat from hell gripped me from the start with its intensely dramatic setting and ghostly goings on. Gilchrist is a bold and confident new voice in the world of gothic fiction - her prose leaps off the page like the storms that plague the retreat. Strap yourself in for a thrilling ride.' - Cassie Hamer, author of The Stranger at the Table'Deviously clever and wickedly sharp - this is one writer's retreat you'll be glad you only visited on the page.' - Kylie Orr, Australian author of The Eleventh Floor

A retelling of one of literature's great novels, Oliver Twist, from the point of view of Nancy, one of the most sympathetic, most maligned and most tragic of Dickens's characters. For readers of The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks. Nancy has spent her whole life on the vibrant and gritty streets of Victorian London, first as one of Fagin's child pickpockets and now on the arm of violent and mercurial Bill Sikes. Nancy does what she must to get by. She's attuned to the harsh realities of life, but also knows how to find moments of beauty amid the grime, even if it is only the scent and taste of an orange - its miraculous colour and form. When she embarks on a relationship with enigmatic gentleman Mr Rufus, it awakens emotions she's never felt before, and makes a better life feel possible for the first time. But when she takes cherubic orphan Oliver Twist under her wing, something even more elusive and appealing seems to be within reach: redemption. This captivating tale of love, sacrifice, and the battle between good and evil showcases the power of compassion in a world tainted by darkness.

The first book written in Australia on the Ukraine War, by ABC''s Global Affairs Editor, John Lyons, based on his reporting from the frontlines. By daytime, Ukraine is a sophisticated European country going about its business, and Kyiv seems like an enchanting city. But by night, the sirens roar, and the war begins. Ukraine is using the amount of ammunition that all of Europe produces in one day, and yet on the surface, much of the country appears to be going about its business as usual.This is a very different book as this is a very different war: One fought by a huge army of civilians, from old punk rockers to university professors and Coca Cola brand managers who are working behind the scenes to outwit the Russian army. The real story of this war is how a nation of 44 million people has marshalled to fend off an enemy much bigger and more daunting than them.Instead of focusing on the geopolitics or strategy of war, Lyons explores the everyday resilient civilians who are taking part in it. It is about survival, not soldiers, and in it Lyons tells us a hopeful story about humanity in the darkest of times.

Tender, endearing, lyrical, surprising, and magical - think Hilary Mantel meets Sarah Winman with a dash of Neil Gaiman - The Oxenbridge King is a delight, a true original. Imagine, if you will: the lost soul of King Richard III; a talking raven; a lonely angel; and a young woman called Molly Stern, who is heartbroken, grieving, and a bit stroppy. When their worlds collide, anything can happen.Richard III is trapped in the afterlife, waiting with his guide, Raven, for an angel to take his soul to Heaven. Though he''s been between worlds for hundreds of years, up in the real world it''s 2013 and Molly Stern has a broken heart from losing her father and a recent breakup. Leaving London, Molly goes home to seek solace from her Aunt Peggy and Uncle Frank in Oxenbridge. But there are strange noises in the basement of her childhood house and nothing feels right, not even between Peggy and Frank. When the angel encounters Molly - and Raven at last finds the angel - life and the afterlife meet, with surprising and unexpected consequences.Inspired by the discovery of the bones of Richard III beneath a car park in England, award-winning poet Christine Paice has fashioned a beautiful, singular, warm, endearing, and funny novel that weaves in and out of time and space and possibility. The Oxenbridge King is a tender and wise meditation on what survives of us when we''re gone, and how, in the end, love and family are everything.''Completely original, such lovely, dreamy writing, every character a delight - I adored it'' Jaclyn Moriarty

How much is a life worth? The scorching dark romanceCartel trilogy by the USA Today bestselling author now in one edition. For all fans of Penelope Douglas, Sylvia Day and Helen Hardt. I grew up in Columbia, the daughter of a wealthy drug lord. I lived a life of extravagance, until one day a drug run went horribly wrong and everything came crashing down around me. I was given away. A payment for a debt. The Gypsy Brothers motorcycle club became my owners, and I did everything I could to survive. But falling in love with the man who owned me wasn't part of the plan ... Before the Gypsy Brothers there was the Cartel — from USA Today bestselling author Lili St Germain. Praise for the Cartel trilogy:'Awesome job Lili ... I am ready to hop on the back of a bike and join the club!' LiteraryGossip.com'Sensational, shocking, compelling and totally addictive ... the best when it comes to dark, brooding and bloody romance' Kelly, Perusing Princesses

Two women, a mysterious map, and a family secret spanning hundreds of years ... A stunning art history thriller set around the life, times, and feuds of the artist Peter Paul Rubens. 'An inspired blend of history and suspense ... This wonderful debut novel will inhabit your dreams' Dominic Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos and Return to Valetto'Art and history collide in this sumptuous novel of dark secrets, family, violence and treachery' Karen Brooks, bestselling author of The Good Wife of Bath, The Brewer's Tale and The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson Innocence and delight, guile and misapprehension, the hint of indifference, even disdain on her pretty features. Fickle, he called her, a mixture of surprise and confidence. She is all that and more, brought to life with the ink strokes of a genius. Spanish Netherlands, 1620s: raised by her father Lucas to know her mind, Antonia Vorsterman sees everything that goes on in her world - all the rivalries and jealousies that course through the artists' studios and workshops of Antwerp. Drawn into the lively household of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, whose work her father engraves for a living, Antonia begins to see a life of colour and possibility for herself - until Lucas entrusts her with a terrible secret that will alter the course of their family's future. Belgium, present day: haunted by the recent loss of her mother, art historian Charlotte Hubert moves to Antwerp to research her hero, the Baroque master Rubens, and to seek answers about the father she's never met. But a startling discovery hidden inside an ancient map folio turns Charlotte's quiet academic life into a dangerous hunt for long-lost treasures, missing for 400 years. In the shadowy cloisters of the university, where ambition, obsession and violence run deep, nothing is as it seems. Charlotte is certain of one thing - no one can be trusted. Centuries apart, Charlotte's and Antonia's lives intertwine as they unearth long-buried secrets about a master and his engraver where theft, betrayal and the fallout of family loyalty run rampant. What do you do when the weight of betrayal grows too heavy to bear?

'This story wouldn't let me go' Michael Robotham'Fierce, action-packed ... A wild, original ride from start to finish' Sarah Bailey'Taut, propulsive ... Brilliant' Anna DownesShortlisted for the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction She's protected them from the truth. Can she save them from her pas? arah Calhoun is a regular Sydney soccer mum, but she's keeping terrifying secrets from everyone she loves . . . and her past is about to catch up with her. When two men from Northern Ireland hunt her down, she's forced to return to Belfast to testify at a murder trial. Caught in the crossfire of an obsessive policeman driven by a disturbing past, and a brutal IRA executioner, Sarah faces an impossible choice: lie and allow a killer to walk free, or tell the truth and place her children in the line of fire. With her family and innocent people at risk, Sarah must find the courage to fight for the truth. But righting the wrongs of the past just might cost her everything . . . This fast-paced, explosive thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat to its gripping finale. 'Show me a soldier who would fight harder than a mother to save her son.'PRAISE'Past and present collide on and off the page in this explosive debut' Sunday Telegraph'The kind of book the phrase 'nail-biting' was made for ... Genuinely terrifying' Books and Publishing'Fierce, action-packed ... A wild, original ride from start to finish' Sarah Bailey'This taut, propulsive debut celebrates female strength and speaks to the extraordinary courage and resilience of mothers everywhere ... Brilliant' Anna Downes'This page-turning thriller packs a powerful punch. A rock-solid five-star read' Sara Foster'Fans of Dervla McTiernan will love this rollercoaster ride of a crime novel where a violent past returns to threaten an uneasy peace. I inhaled it.' Aoife Clifford'Surprising, moving and utterly heart-stopping. A stunning, thought-provoking debut' Kathryn Heyman'A gripping page-turner. I was hooked from the first page until the final twist' Tim Ayliffe

Australia's Test Cricket Captain in conversation with remarkable leaders and achievers - from Julia Gillard to Dennis Lillee. Finalist for the Australian Business Book Awards - Leadership 2025 When Pat Cummins unexpectedly became Australia's 47th Test captain at age 28, he inherited a team with a long and storied history, but also one on the cusp of reinvention. It was the beginning of a personal leadership journey for him, a unique moment of challenge and pressure that would see him become a seasoned captain and, in his private life, become a father and husband but also lose his mother to cancer. Inspiring, revealing and deeply personal, Tested is an exploration of the remarkable place where challenge, crisis and opportunity meet, and how it's only in the moments when we are tested that we discover what we are made of. From a charity leader to Australia's first female prime minister, a Test cricket great to a ground-breaking scientist, an Indigenous leader to a bestselling author and podcaster, Pat interviews eleven extraordinary people whose stories of challenge, adversity, perseverance and resilience - navigating moments of crisis and doubt, seizing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and giving back - have inspired him. Tested is a book of insight and hard-earned wisdom about how the power of resolve to make decisions, big and small, and see them through, is at the heart of all our stories.

The new book from Jimmy Barnes, the award-winning author of the number-one bestsellers Working Class Boy, Working Class Man and Killing Time From larger-than-life adventures to vivid and poignant tales of the imagination, Highways and Byways is a collection of stories taking readers on an enthralling tour (complete with the odd detour) through the raucous, well-lived life of one of this country''s most successful and beloved artists.Told with Jimmy''s signature verve and flair, and richly coloured by his distinctive voice and wit, Highways and Byways sees him sharing a 1970s Texas stage with a dream line-up of US musicians; flirting with disaster in a Hawaiian high-rise; discovering a life-changing cassette tape; unearthing shattering family secrets in Glasgow; encountering charismatic and not-so-endearing superstars, ghosts of the recent and distant past, superfan traffic cops and shady salesmen; and confronting his own mortality - while pondering the more amusing effects of hospital medication.Charming, personal and poignant, Highways and Byways is a collection that celebrates Jimmy''s Scottish heritage, family, friends, music and the adventure of a grand life.

When dehumanisation and destruction become the norm, the cycle must be broken. For over twenty years, Ittay Flescher has worked as an educator, journalist and peacebuilder in Melbourne and Jerusalem. When he woke up on the morning of October 7, 2023 to the sounds of rocket sirens over Jerusalem and later saw the devastation of Gaza in response, the grief and sadness that engulfed him - and so many others - compelled him to ask: how can we find a way forward?Following years spent facilitating dialogue between Jews, Muslims and Christians, Ittay believes that peace can only be found if we are willing to empathise with the pain of others.The Holy and the Broken challenges Palestinian and Israeli leaders, citizens and their supporters across the world to imagine a different reality; to look at history with a different eye; and to search for moments of engagement rather than resentment in the narratives of the past that each side tells about itself.Ultimately, it is a story that aims to comfort the troubled and trouble the comfortable.Praise:''Courageous and considered. Ittay nurtures the tender, fragile shoots of peace. The world could do with more people like him'' Paul Kelly, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist''A book of rare insight and compassion, The Holy and the Broken offers the one thing we thought we''d lost after October 7: a glimmer of hope for meaningful lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians'' Bram Presser, author of The Book of Dirt''This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book, heartfelt and honest. You do not need to agree with everything Flesher has to say to find the book moving and challenging'' Michael Gawenda, former editor in chief, The Age''This ability to empathise with the suffering on both sides is a core value of Flescher''s reconciliation work, and the underpinning to many of the options he outlines'' Dr Anne Sarzin, Jwire''As challenging and as contemporary as it is compassionate. In a world broken by war and polarisation, Ittay offers peaceful possibilities and nuanced perspectives'' Rabbi Ralph Genende OAM, author of Living in an Upside-down World''The Holy and the Broken breaks new ground. Yet what makes it truly singular is its consistent humanity, and its centring of ordinary Israelis and Palestinians'' John Lyndon, executive director, Alliance for Middle East Peace ''This account of the writer''s devotion to peacebuilding in our war-torn region is a shining testament to what can and should be done by those who can imagine a future peace. It lights a candle in an age of darkness!'' Sari Nusseibeh, author of Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life''When you finish it, you will not only know more about what''s happening between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, but you will also know more about yourself'' Maoz Inon, Israeli peacemaker and social entrepreneur''A powerful testament to the possibilities of reconciliation and mutual empathy during conflict, what sets this book apart is its commitment to showcasing the experiences of the diverse individuals involved - especially the integral, yet frequently overlooked, stories of women. By highlighting the gender dynamics at play, Flescher enriches our understanding of the conflict and underscores the importance of supporting a world where more voices are heard and valued'' Sheila Katz, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women''When I picked this book up, I erroneously believed I already "understood" much about the ongoing, collective trauma of Palestinians and Israelis. But this thoughtful and deeply compassionate book shattered that illusion. By the time I put the book down, I was not the same person'' Miriam Anzovin, creator of Daf Reactions and Jewish Lore Reactions