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David Day

デイビッド・デイ

Deibiddo Dei

Aliases: David Andrew Day

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Melbourne
Nationality
Australia
Languages
English
Residence History
Melbourne, Australia → Charleville, Queensland, Australia

Career

Occupations
historian, academic, author
Active Years
1986-2024
Affiliations
La Trobe University, University College Dublin, Bond University, University of Tokyo, Churchill College, Cambridge
Memberships
Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Nominations
1992 Smugglers and Sailors shortlisted for Fellowship of Australian Writers Book of the Year Award, 2000 John Curtin: A Life shortlisted for Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction, New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards

Education

University of Melbourne
Faculty of Arts / History and Political Science
Degree: BA (Hons)
Country: Australia
Graduated with first-class honours in history and political science
University of Cambridge
History
Degree: PhD
Country: United Kingdom

Awards

South Australian Festival Award for Non-Fiction
1998
Work: Claiming a Continent
Category: Non-Fiction
Organization: Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature
Result: winner
Queensland Premier's History Book Award
2000
Work: John Curtin: A Life
Category: History Book
Organization: Queensland Premier's Literary Awards
Result: winner
Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
2004
Organization: Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Result: fellow

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

John Curtin: A Life

1999 Biography 610 pages

A comprehensive biography of Australian Prime Minister John Curtin.

Australian political historyWorld War II

Chifley

2001 Biography 562 pages

Biography of Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

Australian political history

Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia

1996 History 488 pages

A new history of Australia.

Australian history

Bibliography

  • Menzies & Churchill at war
  • The Great Betrayal: Britain, Australia and the Onset of the Pacific War, 1939–42
  • Reluctant Nation: Australia and the Allied Defeat of Japan, 1942–45
  • Smugglers and Sailors: The Customs History of Australia, 1788–1901
  • Contraband and Controversy: The Customs History of Australia from 1901
  • Brave new world: Dr. H.V. Evatt and Australian foreign policy 1941–1949
  • Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia
  • John Curtin: A Life
  • Chifley
  • The Politics of War
  • Conquest: A New History of the Modern World
  • The Weather Watchers: 100 years of the Bureau of Meteorology
  • Conquest: how societies overwhelm others
  • Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia
  • Flaws in the ice: In search of Douglas Mawson
  • The Story of a Prime Minister: Paul Keating, a Biography
  • Maurice Blackburn: Champion of the People

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Detailed archival researchBiographical approachNarrative political history
Recurring Motifs
Biographies of Australian prime ministersAustralia during World War IIStruggles of political leaders

Legacy

Renowned Australian historian specializing in political history, particularly biographies of former prime ministers. Recipient of several literary awards and held professorial positions at universities worldwide.

Academic Societies

  • Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia

Trivia

  • Son of a weather forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology.
  • Participated in protests against Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, which affected his early accounting studies.