Fears and Fantasies Modernity, Gender, and the Rural-Urban Divide

«‘Fears and Fantasies’ is an illuminating and searching account of the many ways the idea of a rural-urban divide has shaped Australian culture. In situating ‘rurality’ as a fundamental aspect of Australian modernity and gender politics, Kate Murphy has rewritten key aspects of Australian cultural history in ways that excite and provoke – highly recommended.» (Stephen Garton, Professor of History and Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Sydney)



«Full of insight and provocative reflection, this book offers us new ways to think about the bush/city relationship in twentieth-century Australia and the New World. It challenges our assumptions about the experience of modernity and provides a compelling argument about the importance of rural life in shaping responses to the modern. A most important book.» (Katie Holmes, Associate Professor, History Program, La Trobe University)