Collection: Adult Non Fiction - Society and Beliefs

In 2012, Dr. Karen King, a star professor at the Harvard Divinity School, announced a blockbuster discovery at a scholarly conference just steps from the Vatican: She had found an ancient fragment of papyrus in which Jesus calls Mary Magdalene "my wife." The discovery made front-page news around ...

An inside look at sexual practices in medieval England. Were medieval women slaves to their husband's desires, jealously secured in a chastity belt in his absence? Was sex a duty or could it be a pleasure? Did a woman have a say about her own female sexuality, body, and who did or didn't get up c...

"In Vexed, James Mumford tackles the polarization of civil society across the democratic West, taking a fresh look at the existential questions and "hot button" issues that are an essential part of the politics of the Left and Right. In examining issues like the "right-to-die" movement and assist...

In 1841 in Port Phillip's new Supreme Court a young Redmond Barry argued that the evidence against two Tasmanian Aboriginals accused of murder was quite insufficient for conviction--to no avail. In January 1842 the first execution took place in front of 3000 spectators. Four decades later, the em...

For the first time this book brings together a comprehensive collection of biographical and political portraits of the Victorian premiers written by leading Australian historians and political scientists. The result is a compelling journey through a turbulent, occasionally anarchic, political lan...

This publication is part of our education program, which builds better understanding of the law through events and resources. Events include Law Week in May, an annual oration and a community forum, as well as extensive work with schools.

This is the story of a woman who was not a royal, not rich, not famous, simply someone who worked hard and enjoyed her life. Beginning in 1882, she ranged through life in the country, life in the town, life in her own house, and in that of others. She travelled, married, had children and a highly...

Anthony Albanese's 2022 election victory was the most consequential in decades. As well as ending a 'lost decade' of conservative rule and bringing Labor into Federal power for the first time since 2013, it ushered in a new force in politics. The victory of the teal independents has changed both ...

"World-renowned philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy interrogates the many meanings and metaphors we have assigned to the coronavirus pandemic--and what they tell us about ourselves. Lévy takes a bird's-eye view of the most consequential historical event of our time and proposes a way to defend human...