Dancing with Strangers

Set against the backdrop of the First Fleet's arrival in 1788, the narrative explores the complex interactions between British settlers and Indigenous Australians. Inga Clendinnen delves into primary sources, revealing the efforts of Arthur Phillip and Indigenous leader Bennelong to forge a relationship amidst cultural misunderstandings. The book highlights the eventual deterioration of this friendship, while also engaging with larger themes of colonialism, cultural perception, and the dynamics of power in historical encounters.