Scandal in the Colonies

The hidden stories of two Australian port towns rife with gossip and dubious reputations are uncovered in this history. This study argues that colonial societies offered European settlers the chance to invent new identities, an opportunity they exploited with a vengeance which ultimately influenced imperial policy and became a key element in the emergence of a society deeply divided by class and race. Touching on the themes of masculinity and commercial culture, female sexuality in civil litigation, and gossip in political culture, this study offers a fresh and engaging approach to colonial history.