Australia, its history and present condition containing an account both of the bush and of the colonies, with their respective inhabitants

"Australia, its history and present condition" by W. Pridden is a comprehensive look at Australia in the 1800s. The book describes both the growing British colonies and the untamed wilderness, highlighting the hardships faced by settlers as well as their beliefs. It looks at the interactions, which aren't always easy, between the colonists from Europe and the people who originally lived there. The author explains that he hasn't been to Australia himself, so he uses stories and notes from explorers and colonists to tell the story. He wants to give a fair picture of the colonies without taking sides in any arguments. Pridden introduces the varied Australian landscape while also talking about the moral duties of the European settlers. He recognizes the effects of colonization on the people who originally lived there and the environment, setting the scene for a big examination of the continent's past and important culture.