The foundation of the Australian nation was unspectacular: the Commonwealth of Australia came into being with the stroke of a pen on a summer's day in 1901. At the time of federation, the majority of Australians was of British heritage and the mother country was by many still considered 'home'. With no foundation myth or unique defining history or culture to resort to, how could Australians forge a national identity? Nadine Kavanagh presents strong evidence that, surprising as it may be, encyclopaedias played an important role in the Australian nation building process. Contrary to their...