Edward M. Curr and the Tide of History

Book excerpt: The idea that Curr's writings posthumously defeated the Yorta Yorta native title claim has a chilling irony about it, given his earlier appropriation of Yorta Yorta lands for pastoral purposes...During the long Yorta Yorta claim, therefore, Edward M. Curr became something of an historical celebrity, highlighting the need for a detailed appraisal of his life, his biases, his opinions, and his attitudes towards Aboriginal people. This book responds to that need by offering a biography of a man who more than a century after his death became a crucial witness in a major native title case."--Prologue.