The Reef: A Passionate History (Iain McCalman, Viking)

The unmatched size, diversity and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef makes it a true natural wonder, impossible for a single human mind to conceive of in its totality. In this ‘passionate history’, historian and author Iain McCalman explores the Reef through the human encounters, experiences and observations that have shaped our understanding of it. From the coastal Indigenous communities whose lives and culture were entwined with the Reef, to the subsequent waves of explorers, colonists, castaways, scientists and artists, these stories of discovery, survival and loss are often as colourful and treacherous as the Reef itself. Like the early explorers who sought to chart a safe passage through the Reef, McCalman’s narration expertly navigates the complex issues of exploration, colonisation, exploitation and conservation that are still facing us today. While Captain Cook may have seen the Reef as an impregnable natural ‘barrier’, we now know that coral communities are incredibly fragile and sensitive to environmental disturbances. Unsurprisingly, McCalman finds hope in the inspiring efforts of people living and working on the Reef, but one senses that the survival of the Great Barrier Reef relies on much greater action from all of us.

Richard Bilkey is the ereading content manager for Samsung Australia

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews