Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia PDF - The Laugh-Out-Loud and Educational History of Australia by David Hunt
Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia - A Hilarious and Insightful Book by David Hunt
If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud while learning about the history of Australia, you should definitely check out Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia by David Hunt. This book is a witty and irreverent account of the events and people that shaped the nation, from megafauna to Macquarie, from convicts to colonists, from explorers to eccentrics.
Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia free download
What is Girt about?
Girt is not your typical history book. It does not follow a chronological order or a thematic structure. Instead, it jumps from one topic to another, highlighting the absurd, the ridiculous and the bizarre aspects of Australia's past. Here are some of the things you will learn from reading Girt:
The truth of Australia's past
Girt reveals the facts that are often omitted or distorted in the official versions of history. For example, you will learn that:
The first European to land in Australia was not Captain Cook, but a Dutch sailor named Willem Janszoon who mistook Cape York for New Guinea.
The first Australian settlement was not Sydney, but a failed attempt by the French to colonize Tasmania in 1772.
The first Australian explorer was not Burke and Wills, but an Aboriginal man named Bungaree who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his circumnavigation of the continent.
The first Australian prime minister was not Edmund Barton, but a Scottish-born journalist named John Robertson who led a short-lived republic in 1856.
The forgotten heroes and eccentrics
Girt introduces you to some of the most remarkable and eccentric characters in Australian history. For example, you will meet:
Mary McLoghlin, a convict who was transported for the crime of "felony of sock" and became a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Trim the cat, who beat a French monkey to become the first animal to circumnavigate Australia with Flinders.
William Bligh, who was not only the victim of the famous mutiny on the Bounty, but also the governor of New South Wales who faced another rebellion by the Rum Corps.
Francis Greenway, a convict architect who designed some of Sydney's most iconic buildings and was rewarded with a pardon and a banknote.
The cock-ups and curiosities
Girt recounts some of the most hilarious and bizarre episodes in Australian history. For example, you will read about:
The Emden Goose, a German warship that disguised itself as a merchant vessel and raided Australian ports during World War I.
The Emu War, a military operation in 1932 that aimed to cull thousands of emus that were destroying crops in Western Australia.
The Great Melbourne Tea Party, a protest in 1978 that involved dumping tea into the Yarra River to mock the Queen's visit.
The Cane Toad Invasion, a biological disaster that started in 1935 when cane toads were introduced to Queensland to control beetles and ended up spreading across the country.
Why should you read Girt?
Girt is not only a fun and entertaining book, but also a valuable and informative one. Here are some of the reasons why you should read Girt:
It's funny and engaging
Girt is written in a witty and humorous style that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. David Hunt has a knack for finding the humour in every situation, whether it's a tragic death, a political scandal or a natural disaster. He also uses sarcasm, irony and exaggeration to poke fun at the myths and stereotypes that surround Australian history. You will find yourself laughing out loud at his jokes and anecdotes, while also learning something new and interesting.
It's informative and well-researched
Girt is not a mere collection of jokes and trivia. It is also a well-researched and accurate account of Australia's history, based on reliable sources and evidence. David Hunt has done his homework and consulted a variety of books, journals, newspapers, archives and websites to verify his facts and references. He also provides a bibliography and an index at the end of the book for further reading and exploration. You will be amazed by the amount of information and detail that he packs into each chapter, while also making it easy to understand and digest.
It's un-Australian not to read it
Girt is a book that celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of Australia and its people. It does not shy away from the dark and controversial aspects of its history, but also does not ignore the positive and inspiring ones. It shows that Australia is not a boring or bland country, but a fascinating and complex one, full of surprises and contradictions. It also shows that Australians are not a homogeneous or stereotypical group, but a diverse and eccentric one, full of humour and resilience. Reading Girt will make you proud to be an Australian, or at least curious to learn more about it.
How can you get Girt for free?
If you are interested in reading Girt, you might be wondering how you can get it for free. There are several ways to do so, but not all of them are legal or ethical. Here are some of the options you have:
The legal ways
The most obvious and legitimate way to get Girt for free is to borrow it from a library or a friend. You can check if your local library has a copy of Girt in its catalogue, or if you know someone who owns it and is willing to lend it to you. This way, you can enjoy reading Girt without spending any money or breaking any laws. However, you might have to wait for your turn if the book is in high demand or already checked out by someone else.
Another legal way to get Girt for free is to download it as an ebook or an audiobook from an online platform that offers free access to books. For example, you can use Amazon Kindle Unlimited, which allows you to read unlimited books from its library for a monthly fee. You can also use Audible, which gives you one free audiobook per month when you sign up for its membership. However, these platforms might not have Girt in their collection, or they might require you to pay a subscription fee or provide your personal information.
The illegal ways
The most common and illegal way to get Girt for free is to download it as a pirated copy from an online source that offers free downloads of books. For example, you can use torrent sites, file-sharing sites or online forums that host links to illegal copies of books. However, these sources are not only unlawful, but also risky and unreliable. You might end up downloading a virus or malware instead of the book, or getting caught by the authorities or the publishers who monitor these sites.
Another illegal way to get Girt for free is to steal it from a bookstore or a library. For example, you can hide the book under your clothes or in your bag, or swap it with another book that has the same barcode or cover. However, these methods are not only criminal, but also immoral and disrespectful. You might end up getting arrested or banned by the store or the library, or ruining the reputation of other readers who respect the rules.
The risks and consequences
The risks and consequences
If you choose to get Girt for free by using illegal ways, you should be aware of the risks and consequences that you might face. Some of them are:
Legal penalties: You might be fined, sued or even jailed for violating the copyright laws and infringing the intellectual property rights of the author and the publisher. You might also be charged with theft, fraud or vandalism for stealing or damaging the book.
Moral guilt: You might feel ashamed, remorseful or guilty for stealing or downloading the book without paying for it or giving credit to the author. You might also lose the respect and trust of your friends, family or colleagues who find out about your actions.
Quality loss: You might not get the best reading experience from a pirated or stolen copy of the book. You might encounter errors, glitches, missing pages or poor formatting that affect your enjoyment and understanding of the book. You might also miss out on the bonus features or updates that come with the official version of the book.
Support loss: You might not be able to support the author and the publisher who worked hard to create and publish the book. You might also discourage them from writing or producing more books in the future. You might also deprive yourself of the opportunity to interact with other readers who bought or borrowed the book legally.
Conclusion
Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia by David Hunt is a hilarious and insightful book that reveals the truth of Australia's past, from megafauna to Macquarie, from convicts to colonists, from explorers to eccentrics. It is a book that will make you laugh, learn and appreciate the uniqueness and diversity of Australia and its people. It is a book that you should read if you are interested in Australian history, culture or humour.
However, if you want to read Girt for free, you should do it in a legal and ethical way. You should borrow it from a library or a friend, or download it from an online platform that offers free access to books. You should not download it from an illegal source or steal it from a bookstore or a library. You should respect the rights and efforts of the author and the publisher, and enjoy the book in its full quality and authenticity.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Girt:
Who is David Hunt?
David Hunt is an Australian writer, historian and comedian who wrote Girt as his first book. He has also written a sequel called True Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia Volume 2, and a children's book called The Nose Pixies. He has worked as a historical consultant and comedy writer for television, and also has a proper job.
What does Girt mean?
Girt is an archaic word that means "surrounded" or "encircled". It is used in the first line of Australia's national anthem: "Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free; We've golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea." Hunt chose this word as the title of his book because he thought it captured the essence of Australia.
Is Girt accurate?
Girt is based on reliable sources and evidence that Hunt consulted and verified. However, it is not a comprehensive or definitive account of Australia's history. It is a selective and subjective one that focuses on the humorous and quirky aspects of it. Hunt also uses exaggeration, sarcasm and irony to make his points and jokes. Therefore, Girt should not be taken too seriously or literally.
Is Girt suitable for children?
Girt is not intended for children. It contains coarse language, sexual references, violence and drug use that might be inappropriate or offensive for young readers. It also deals with some complex and controversial issues that might require parental guidance or explanation. However, Hunt has written a children's book called The Nose Pixies that is suitable for kids.
Where can I buy Girt?
You can buy Girt from various online or offline retailers that sell books. For example, you can buy it from Amazon.com.au, where you can also read customer reviews and ratings. You can also buy it from David Hunt's website, where you can also find more information about him and his other books.
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