The Birth of a Nation by William Leonard Joy is a mid-20th-century narrative history of early Australia, specially commissioned by The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, N.S.W.). Published in 1962, the work presents a sweeping account of Australia’s formative colonial years, tracing the establishment of British settlement through to the shaping of national identity.
Opening with the arrival of the First Fleet and Governor Arthur Phillip’s foundation of the colony at Sydney Cove in 1788, Joy charts:
The hardships of early penal settlement
The relationship between convicts, military officers, and colonial administrators
The development of agriculture and trade
The growth of Sydney and surrounding districts
Political tensions and emerging self-government
The gradual transformation from penal outpost to organised colony
The illustrated endpapers — including the depiction of Sydney Cove as seen by Governor Phillip in 1788 (after Lieutenant William Bradley) — reinforce the historical tone and educational purpose of the book.
Joy writes in a clear, accessible style aimed at a general readership, blending narrative storytelling with documented historical events. The tone reflects a mid-century Australian historical perspective, focusing on colonial administration, exploration, and civic development.
The Birth of a Nation (1962, 1st Edition) | William L. Joy | Australian History
Title: The Birth of a Nation | The Story of Early Australia, Specially Commissioned by the Sunday Telegraph, Sydney, N.S.W.
Author: William Leonard Joy
Edition: First edition
Publication Date: 1962
Publisher: Shakespeare Head Press, Sydney, Australia
Binding: Hardcopy (Green cloth)
Pages: 183 pages
Dust Jacket: No
Condition: Used. Light green cloth-covered spine and cardboard covers. Text and graphics on spine (black). Most pages are clean and bright, however a few pages contain underwritten paragraphs. Firm binding. Tanning and foxing present. Boards are worn. Shelf wear to corners, spine and edges. Still a good readable copy.
ISBN: N/A
We have made every reasonable effort to ensure that the book listed conforms to illustrations, photographs and descriptions provided. We cannot, however, guarantee that all images will be precisely accurate due to discrepancies arising from differences in the colour reproduction of electronic displays.
This book is prior owned. You purchase this book “as-is” understanding this work of art may, due to its age and use, contain foxing, marks, scuffs, scratches, mould, tears, cracks, blemishes and the like. It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself as to the condition of the book.
