"The Italians comprised the first truly large wave of immigrants to have arrived from Southern Europe after World War II. Today, people of Italian background in Australia number around one million. The Italians have made an enormous contribution to the development of Australian society through the twentieth century and to the present, and Gianfranco Cresciani - this country's foremost expert on Italian life in Australia - provides the definitive account. In this new edition Cresciani brings to life the important story of the Italo-Australian community into the twenty-first century."--Book jacket.

Contents:
1. A Country of Emigrants -- 2. Italians Discover Australia 1788-1900 -- 3. The Italian Presence 1900-1940 -- 4. Fascism and Anti-Fascism 1922-1940 -- 5. Italians and Australians at War 1940-1947 -- 6. Mass Migration 1945-1971 -- 7. Full Circle.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 180-183) and index.