Tracing the lives and times of ordinary people, the author of this study reveals little-known accounts ranging from regional histories to pen portraits, trade journals, and diaries. This compelling narrative features the experiences of everyday life--what people wore and ate, the sorts of houses they lived in, and what they learned at school. Exploring how Australians were affected by natural disasters, disease, and working conditions in an increasingly industrialized society, this history is infused with real stories about how they lived--now and then.