Matthew Flinders Life Writer: A talk by Dr Gillian Dooley

Dr Gillian Dooley explores the way young explorer Matthew Flinders used words to discover himself and reveal himself to the world.
Matthew Flinders never wrote an autobiography, but he often reflected on his life in his published work, his letters and his journals. He wrote to understand his place in the history of exploration and navigation; he wrote to justify his actions and decisions; he wrote to express his frustrations; and sometimes he imagined an alternative life. His ‘Biographical Tribute to the Memory of Trim’ was the story not only of his cat but also of himself. In this talk Dr Gillian Dooley will explore the way this young explorer used words to discover himself and reveal himself to the world.