The front cover of 1788.
In early-January 1788, the First Fleet passed the south-eastern tip of Van Diemen’s Land and sailed north to Botany Bay, where the British intended to establish a new penal colony.
*
David Hill’s 2008 book, 1788: The Brutal Truth of the First Fleet, is expertly-written, well-paced, and really engaging. History can be presented blandly, but to Hill’s credit, he makes it interesting. He does this by focusing on the people of the First Fleet, including Arthur Phillip (the first Governor of New South Wales) and Robert Ross (the commander of the marines).
Hill not only describes the First Fleet’s voyage to Australia, but also outlines how the penal colony in New South Wales got off the ground.
Many primary sources are cited throughout 1788. Gaps in the historical timeline are filled with intelligent supposition.
1788 has no long, complicated words, so it is easy to understand. There is a bit of repetition, but this does not detract from the quality of the book.
I learnt a lot of things about the First Fleet while reading 1788. For example, I discovered that the voyage was poorly-planned, under-funded, and under-staffed. It is remarkable that the ships made it to Australia at all.
Overall, 1788 is a well-written and informative book. I would strongly recommend it to history buffs and anyone who is interested in the First Fleet.
Governor Arthur Phillip hoists the British flag over the new colony of New South Wales (1788).
About David Hill
David Hill has had a remarkable career. He has held a number of other executive appointments in the areas of sport, transport, broadcasting, fiscal management, and city parks.
He lives in Sydney.
Technical information
1788: The Brutal Truth of the First Fleet, Random House Australia 2008, 392pp, paperback, ISBN 9781741668001.
