Shortlisted, Nettie Palmer Prize for Non-Fiction, Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 1998
Shortlisted, person classification, Centre for Australian Cultural reviews nationwide Awards 1998
Highly recommended, Human Rights Award in Arts Non-Fiction, Human Rights and equivalent chance fee 1998
'How is it our minds aren't satisfied?. What capability this whispering within the backside of our hearts?'
So ended a public lecture given in 1842 by way of sought after Sydney barrister, Richard Windeyer. The lecture used to be intended to be a reasoned demolition of the rights of Australia's unique population. however it ended with a query, acknowledgement of a stricken conscience.
Henry Reynolds has listened to this whisper, this disquiet. It has led him into the lives of outstanding and principally forgotten those that their consciences, at nice own expense. From those lives, This Whispering in Our Hearts constructs a special heritage of Australia, noticeable throughout the eyes of these who acknowledged no, these whose legacy is so very important within the present debate approximately this country's future.
the tale starts with Australia's first punitive excursion in December 1790 and the 1st conflict of judgment of right and wrong concerning the use of violence which came about among Governor Arthur Phillip and Lieutenant William Dawes. It ends at the eve of worldwide battle II with humanitarian reformers like Mary Bennett nonetheless expressing deep anger concerning the situation of the Aborigines and the attitudes of white Australia.