1964 book the lucky country

The lucky country by donald horne penguin books australia. When it was first published in 1964 the lucky countrycaused a sensation. This is an ebook that i bought for something like 99 cents on book bud. Hornes argument was that australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate peopl. Professor donald horne was an australian historian and philosopher. When it was first published in 1964 the lucky country caused a sensation. It had not done the same for horne, although he was famous for his 1964 book the lucky country and had been one of the country s leading journalists, editors and intellectuals for half a century. The story of the publication of the lucky country, meanjin winter 2016, is a little unfair to my father donald horne. It had not done the same for horne, although he was famous for his 1964 book the lucky country and had been one of the countrys leading journalists, editors and intellectuals for half a century. I was about to write the last chapter of a book on australia, recalled horne, who died yesterday, aged 83.

There are some good things in the article about max harris and geoff dutton, but this piece only deals with the parts of the article which deal with horne. The lucky country by donald horne, which came out in 1964, has gone on to become a cult classic, as well as saddling this land with an entirely misappropriated nickname. I can only ever remember this being used in a favourable context, given the natural resources available to the country, the. It is the first book in a series, made in yorkshire. The title has become a nickname for australia and is generally used favourably, although the origin of the phrase was negative in the context of the book. First published in 1964, the lucky country caused a sensation. This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1964.

Among other things, it has been used in reference to australias natural resources, weather, history, its early dependency of the british. Australia has long been referred to as the lucky country, originally taken from the 1964 book of the same name by social critic donald horne. Australia is a lucky country, run by secondrate people who share its luck. Among other things, it has been used in reference to australias natural resources, weather, history, remoteness and other. Lucky country by donald horne 1964, paperback for sale. The lucky country square holes an awe inspiring future. Fifty years on from hornes book our luck is running out. Popular penguins he just wanted a decent book to read. Half a century later republicans use his ideas to champion a progressive, reforming idea, writes history editor dr glenn davies in october 2014, the australian republican. Lucky country, was one of the most influential books in the countrys. Horne took australian society to task for its philistinism, provincialism. Australia is a lucky country, run mainly by secondrate people who share its luck. However, we havent really worked out our place in it. The lucky country the lucky country sounds like a nice cuddly description of australia, but it isnt.

When it was first published in 1964, the lucky country caused a. Donald hornes lucky country and the decline of the. It had not done the same for horne, although he was famous for his 1964 book the lucky country and had been one of the countrys leading. In 1964, academic and social critic donald horne wrote the lucky countrya book about his homeland australia. Yet few australians would be able to quote the sentence it originally appeared in. The title was deeply ironic, suggesting that much of australias prosperity depended on historical factors such as its colonial origins rather than effort and enterprise. As usual australians took this derogatory remark and turned it into a compliment. As the cover of the sixth edition published in 2008 says, the book was a. Quite simply there are a lot of natural resources compared to the size of the population. His intention was not so much to say how lucky australia is and how we. Academic donald hornes 1964 book that concluded australia is a lucky country run mainly by secondrate people has arguably never been truer. Although its a study of the confident australia of the 1960s, the book still remains. The lucky country by donald horne, which came out in 1964, has. Among other things, it has been used in reference to australias natural resources, weather, history, its early dependency of the british system, distance from problems elsewhere in the world.

The lucky country 50 years on hindsight abc radio national. The phrase the lucky country is often misunderstood, as a description of australia. Groundbreaking earth sciences for a smart and lucky. In 1964 social critic donald horne wrote a book about australia called the lucky country. Australia was seen as the lucky country, as it enjoys a very good standard of living despite all this. The book was a wakeup call to an unimaginative nation, an indictment of a country mired in mediocrity and manacled to its past. It was the title of a 1964 book by historian and journalist donald horne. The phrase the lucky country is used a lot in the australian media, rather like how the americans use gods own country in theirs, and the first surprise was that author donald horne was being sarcastic. First published in 1964 the lucky country caused a sensation. The lucky country is a nickname for australia taken from a 1964 book. Its 50 years since the publication of one of australias most iconic books. In the last chapter of donald hornes 1964 book the lucky country while the book coined the phrase that went on to be used as a positive representation of australias lucky lifestyle, the intent was an indictment of australias laziness, and observation of prosperity more so from exploiting natural resources than innovation. This piece is an attempt to set the record straight. Donald hornes lucky country and the decline of the public intellectual.

It comes from the title of a professor donald horne book in 1964 called the lucky country. The title has become a nickname for australia and is generally used favourably, although the origin of the. Donald horne and the story of the publication of the lucky. The lucky country is a phrase any australian is familiar with, one often applied with beaming happiness to things like vegemite advertisements or australia day speeches. His 1964 book the lucky country caused a sensation and was a runaway bestseller.

Back in 1964 donald horne coined the phrase, the lucky country. Rupert murdoch a bold and provocative book about australias national identity and how it is threatened by the rise of a ruling class. While this phrase is generally now accepted as a positive reference and has been repeated everywhere from cigarette adverts to patriotic aussie songs, hornes original meaning of the phrase was somewhat different. Image caption the lucky country caused a stir when it came out in 1964 a bucket of cold saltwater emptied onto the belly of a dreaming sunbather, is how one critic described it at the time. A bold and provocative book about australias national identity and a plea to keep australias famed openmindedness, cater tracks the seismic changes in australian culture and outlook since donald horne published the lucky country in 1964.

The opening words of the final chapter of donald hornes 1964 book the lucky country read. In 1964 donald horne said australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate people who share its luck. Writer, academic and public intellectual donald horne described australia as the lucky country in a book of the same name published in 1964. I bought it because i enjoy reading about lives in england, this one about a young country boy who experiences his first interaction with the wealthy gentry class. His title came from the opening words of the books last chapter. The point he was trying to make was that australia was lucky rather than. Originating from donald hornes 1964 book, the lucky country, the entire phrase states, australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate people who share its luck.

The quote the lucky country was penned by donald horne, a famous or infamous historian in the 1960s. The first edition of the lucky country was published fifty years ago in december 1964 by staunch republican professor donald horne, who provocatively critiqued australia as mired in mediocrity and manacled to its past. When it was first published in 1964, the lucky country caused a sensation. It lives on other peoples ideas, and although its ordinary people are adaptable, most of its leaders in all fields so lack curiosity about the events that. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate people who share its luck. First published in 1964, the book was a wakeup call to an unimaginative nation, an indictment of a country mired in mediocrity and manacled.