VANDEMONIAN HISTORY
IS THE APPELLATION OF TASMANIAN HISTORIAN AND WRITER
MALCOLM WARD
Love, passion and cruelty in Van Diemen’s Land. George Meredith’s love letters to his wife 1823-1836 softcover ($50) is now available in bookshops and via the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society web site: https://glamorganhistory.org.au/purchase-love-passion-cruelty Limited edition, ‘collector’s edition’ hardcover in slipcase only available from the GSBHS ($100). E-mail the Society on GSBHS@own.net.au .
“Malcolm Ward’s fascinating selection of love letters from George Meredith to his wife Mary provides unrivalled insight into the intimacies of a prominent colonial family. In this beautifully produced book, Ward reveals Meredith’s erotic side in ‘love feasts’ with a receptive Mary, who struggles to attain the high standards of respectability set by her adoring yet demanding husband. A riveting read.”
Emeritus Professor Stefan Petrow
Malcolm's main interest is Tasmanian colonial history, particularly the Van Diemen's Land era. He has a special interest in colonial buildings, particularly those on the east coast of Tasmania. A long term research project is Tasmania's second premier, Thomas George Gregson.
Malcom at his desk
A bit about Malcolm…
In 2017 Malcolm retired as a geologist, having practiced around the world for over 35 years. He obtained a BSc (First Class Honours) at the University of Tasmania in 1981 and an MSc at Queen's University, Ontario, in 1991.
About 20 years ago, he became interested in family history and has published a number of books on his ancestors and one about buildings in southern Tasmania built by his Seabrook family.
In 2010, Malcolm moved to the east coast of Tasmania and joined the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society www.glamorganhistory.org.au. In 2017, the Society published Houses & Estates of Old Glamorgan for which Malcolm was the lead author, joining Maureen Martin Ferris and Tully Brookes. This book described the history of 30 of the oldest colonial properties in the former Glamorgan municipality, the pioneers who settled there, and the architecture of homesteads and outbuildings.
The most substantial house described was Cambria, to the north of Swansea, the creation of George Meredith. Research on Meredith led Malcolm wanting to find out more, so he proposed a post-graduate project to Stefan Petrow, Professor of History at the University of Tasmania. Malcolm began the project in November 2016 with Stefan and Peter Chapman as his Supervisors. The PhD was finished and awarded in late 2020 and Malcolm is now writing several books emanating from his research. The first, an edited collection of Meredith's love letters to his wife, was published in May 2021 and launched by Her Excellency, the Governor of Tasmania, Professor Kate Warner. The second, a biography of Meredith, will appear in 2022.
Malcolm also worked with the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society on a Second Edition of Houses & Estates of Old Glamorgan which includes new material. This is now on sale from bookshops and the Society.
