My Home in Tasmania
During a Residence of Nine Years

A valuable work for colonial and women's writing, covering both life in the society and observations of nature.

Louisa Anne Meredith (Author)

9781108020343, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 October 2010

292 pages, 9 b/w illus.
21.6 x 1.7 x 14 cm, 0.37 kg

Louisa Anne Meredith's account of her life in Tasmania was published in 1852. She was an experienced traveller, and this work is remarkable for being the first detailed account by a woman of life in the colony. Its shrewd observations and descriptive personal narrative make it an engaging read, as well as providing a valuable historical record. A keen botanist and artist, Meredith describes the island's natural life in great detail in beautiful and evocative passages. In Volume 2 she provides more anecdotes of her life, including descriptions of the animals she encounters and journeys made within the island. She also covers more social issues, looking at religion and custom in the colony among the settlers and the natives, and closing the book with an examination of Tasmania's industry and trades. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=merelo

1. Opossums not sluggish
2. Wild cattle
3. Green parrots
4. Destroyers of poultry
5. Garden laid out
6. Improvements
7. Unwelcome changes
8. Saint Paul's Plains and River
9. Westbury
10. General sketch of 'Lath Hall'
11. Our new neighbours
12. Expedition to an enchanted valley
13. Tasmanian eagle
14. Church-building
15. A winter at Port Sorell
16. Return home
17. Fish
18. Improvements at Poyston
19. Resignation.

Subject Areas: Australasian & Pacific history [HBJM]