Frank Clune saw World War II as a turning point in Australia’s consciousness, turning its inhabitants’ attention to the Pacific region. This is his series of short sketches based on his travels: hitching a ride home on a sailing ship from Vancouver; seeing a giant turtle tow a dinghy madly about a bay as if it were a toy; the escape of convict William Bryant and his wife Mary in an open boat from Botany Bay to Koepang, in 1791; the slaughter of the crew of the brig Stedcombe - and many more tales of historic interest.