About the book
For most Australian Aboriginal people, the impact of colonialism was blunt—dispossession, dislocation, disease, murder, and missionization. Yet there is another story of Australian history that has remained untold, a story of enterprise and entrepreneurship, of Aboriginal people seizing the opportunity to profit from life at sea as whalers and sealers. In some cases participation was voluntary; in others it was more invidious and involved kidnapping and trade in women. In many cases, the individuals maintained and exercised a degree of personal autonomy and agency within their new circumstances. This book explores some of their lives and adventures by analyzing archival records of maritime industry, captains' logs, ships' records, and the journals of the sailors themselves, among other artifacts. Much of what is known about this period comes from the writings of Herman Melville, and in this book Melville's whaling novels act as a prism through which relations aboard ships are understood. Drawing on both history and literature, Roving Mariners provides a comprehensive history of Australian Aboriginal whaling and sealing.
Editions of Roving Mariners
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781438444239
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781438444246
- PDF
- ISBN 9781438444253
Read an Excerpt
For most Australian Aboriginal people, the impact of colonialism was blunt—dispossession, dislocation, disease, murder, and missionization. Yet there is another story of Australian history that has remained untold, a story of enterprise and entrepreneurship, of Aboriginal people seizing the opportunity to profit from life at sea as whalers and sealers. In some cases participation was voluntary; in others it was more invidious and involved kidnapping and trade in women. In many cases, the individuals maintained and exercised a degree of personal autonomy and agency within their new circumstances. This book explores some of their lives and adventures by analyzing archival records of maritime industry, captains' logs, ships' records, and the journals of the sailors themselves, among other artifacts. Much of what is known about this period comes from the writings of Herman Melville, and in this book Melville's whaling novels act as a prism through which relations aboard ships are understood. Drawing on both history and literature, Roving Mariners provides a comprehensive history of Australian Aboriginal whaling and sealing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Roving Mariners about?
For most Australian Aboriginal people, the impact of colonialism was blunt—dispossession, dislocation, disease, murder, and missionization. Yet there is another story of Australian history that has remained untold, a story of enterprise and entrepreneurship, of Aboriginal people seizing the opportunity to profit from life at sea as whalers and sealers. In some cases participation was voluntary; in others it was more invidious and involved kidnapping and trade in women. In many cases, the individuals maintained and exercised a degree of personal autonomy and agency within their new circumstances. This book explores some of their lives and adventures by analyzing archival records of maritime industry, captains' logs, ships' records, and the journals of the sailors themselves, among other artifacts. Much of what is known about this period comes from the writings of Herman Melville, and in this book Melville's whaling novels act as a prism through which relations aboard ships are understood. Drawing on both history and literature, Roving Mariners provides a comprehensive history of Australian Aboriginal whaling and sealing.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Roving Mariners?
Society and Social Sciences > Sociology and anthropology > Anthropology
Where can I read a sample of Roving Mariners?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781438444239
How long is Roving Mariners and how many pages does it have?
Roving Mariners has 235 page(s)
Is Roving Mariners part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series SUNY series, Tribal Worlds: Critical Studies in American Indian Nation Building
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Roving Mariners?
Lynette Russell
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Roving Mariners is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781438444239) and paperback(ISBN 9781438444246) and pdf(ISBN 9781438444253)
Where can I buy Roving Mariners online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Roving Mariners from below
Where can I buy Roving Mariners?