Hardie Grant acquires Pascoe’s travel guide

27 June 2018 Books+Publishing

Hardie Grant Travel has acquired world rights to a travel guide book by Bunurong writer Bruce Pascoe.

The as-yet-untitled book will look at places in Australia ‘where evidence of Indigenous history has not been highlighted’ and will continue the work Pascoe started in his 2014 book Dark Emu (Magabala), according to a statement from the publisher.

Pascoe will spend a year travelling with photographer Vicky Shukuroglou to research and document around 25 places of interest that ‘showcase the richness, ingenuity and diversity of Aboriginal Australian cultures prior to British settlement’. The publisher hopes the book will promote growth in Indigenous tourism operations.

‘When you consider how much tourism is enjoyed by historic sites like Stonehenge and Machu Picchu, it’s curious that we don’t celebrate places in our own country that are evidence of the oldest civilisation in the world,’ said publisher Melissa Kayser. ‘Bruce’s book has the potential to completely shake up Australia’s tourism landscape and Hardie Grant Travel will be honoured to publish it.’

Pascoe, who was awarded the Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature earlier this year, said in a statement: ‘Knowing country is important for everyone. Here is an opportunity to explore the country from the point of view of the First Nation guides. Revelation of country.’

The acquisition announcement comes not long after Hardie Grant published Marcia Langton’s Indigenous guide book Welcome to Country: A Travel Guide to Indigenous Australia and Magabala published a new edition of Dark Emu.

Pascoe’s book is scheduled for release in April 2020.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions