This book investigates the historical reality of armed conflict on Australian soil, challenging the long-standing national narrative that the continent was settled peacefully. The author, A.J. Grassby, utilizes historical records and archival research to document the sustained resistance of Indigenous Australians against colonial expansion, while also examining the internal struggles of white settlers against oppressive colonial structures. By framing these events as a series of wars, the work argues that resistance is a foundational element of the Australian experience.

The subject matter points to a revisionist historical text that seeks to challenge established national myths through a focus on conflict and resistance. The framing suggests an accessible yet provocative introduction to the violent realities of the Australian frontier for a general readership interested in social and political history.