Kathleen Fitzpatrick's scholarly biography of Sir John Franklin's tenure as Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1837 to 1843 — published by Melbourne University Press in 1949 and still the standard academic account of Franklin's Tasmanian years.
Franklin is better known for his fatal 1845 Arctic expedition searching for the Northwest Passage — the expedition from which neither he nor any of his 128 men returned, and whose fate remained one of the great mysteries of Victorian exploration for over a century. But his six years in Van Diemen's Land as Lieutenant-Governor were also significant — a period of considerable controversy involving his difficult relationship with Colonial Secretary John Montagu, the influence of his formidable wife Lady Jane Franklin, and the broader politics of governing a convict colony in transition.
Fitzpatrick focuses on the positive achievements of Franklin's administration — educational reform, scientific endeavour, and the establishment of institutions that outlasted his tenure — while giving full weight to the political difficulties that ended it.
At 408 pages with a full index, this is a substantial and thoroughly researched scholarly biography published by Melbourne University Press.
BOOK DETAILS
- Hardcover with dust jacket.
- 408 pages, indexed.
- Published 1949 by Melbourne University Press. Out of print.
CONDITION
- Used and old.
- Dust jacket torn and tatty.
- Previous owner's details in the front.
- Pages generally good condition.
- Contact the bookshop on 03 6381 1545 for additional photos if required before purchasing.
DELIVERY & IN-STORE PICKUP
- Combined Shipping: Sourcing multiple titles for your Tasmanian history library? The Book Cellar offers combined flat-rate parcel delivery across Australia. Secure your books using our online checkout, or phone the bookshop directly on 03 6381 1545 to coordinate multi-volume shipping.
- Free Instore Pickup: Located in Tasmania or travelling the Midland Highway? Select "Instore Pickup" at checkout to pay no postage and collect your items directly from the counter at The Book Cellar, underneath Foxhunters Return in Campbell Town.
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![Van Diemen's Land Correspondents 1827–1849 – Letters to Sir William Hooker | T.E. Burns & J.R. Skemp (Eds.) | Frank Ellis (Ed.) | 1961 [USED – HC]](https://onlinestore.bookcellar.com.au/images/T/van-diemens-land-correspondents-redhardcover-wJf6bL.png "Van Diemen's Land Correspondents 1827–1849 – Letters to Sir William Hooker | T.E. Burns & J.R. Skemp (Eds.) | Frank Ellis (Ed.) | 1961 [USED – HC]")
