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Mary Booth
The Woman Who Shaped the Anzac Legend
Brief Description
Mary Booth was a woman of startling contradictions. One of Australia's first female doctors, a pioneering feminist, and nationalist, she was also a staunch political conservative and a devoted empire loyalist. She championed infant welfare, war commemoration, environmental reform, and the place of women in public...
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Mary Booth
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Description
Mary Booth was a woman of startling contradictions. One of Australia's first female doctors, a pioneering feminist, and nationalist, she was also a staunch political conservative and a devoted empire loyalist. She championed infant welfare, war commemoration, environmental reform, and the place of women in public life, all while navigating a society deeply shaped by gender and race.
Feted as the 'Queen of Anzac' and hailed as the 'professional mother' of Australian soldiers, Booth's legacy is far-reaching. From founding the Women's Club and Anzac Fellowship of Women to reshaping ideas of national identity and womanhood, her impact is undeniable.
Drawing on newly uncovered personal correspondence, Mary Booth reveals the intimate world behind the public figure. It not only restores a formidable woman to the historical record but also uncovers the pivotal, and often overlooked, role of women in forging Australia's national story and the enduring myth of Anzac. This is the compelling story of a forgotten feminist and the nation she helped build.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780522880717
Publisher: Melbourne University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 17 March 2026
Country: Australia
Imprint: Melbourne University Press
DIMENSIONS
Width: 153.0mm
Height: 234.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 384
About the Author
Bruce Scates is a Fulbright Scholar and Emeritus Professor of History at the Australian National University. He has pioneered new forms of life writing, published widely on the culture of commemoration and the human cost of war, and is a major contributor to debates in social, labour and gender history.
Raelene Frances is Emeritus Professor of History at the Australian National University. She is internationally recognised for her contributions to social, gender and labour history, particularly to the understanding of the intersections between work, gender, class and war.
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