The Lieutenant

The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville is the story of the meeting of two totally different cultures.  It tells the story of an astronomer who is a member of the British marines sent to guard the the first load prisoners at Botany Bay in Australia.  He meets some Aborigines, including a 12 year old girl, who teach him about their language and culture.  It opens up his eyes to the brutality of his own culture.  A good, quick read.