ALL AT SEA

Australia, as the world's largest island continent, is intrinsically linked to the sea and its inland rivers. 'All At Sea' explores the Australian maritime story - convict transports, crazed gold seekers scrambling for a packet ship, emigrant settlers, the wool clipper trade and through to how Australian sculling, surfing and swimming became a national obsession. Merchant and naval sailors and maritime humour and superstitions are also covered. Fahey, a distinguished folklorist and cultural historian, has collected hundreds of songs, shanties, parodies and rare photographs to illustrate this unique and fascinating compendium.