Cover art for The Canon of Ancona
Published
Uwa Publishing, January 2026
ISBN
9781760803216
Format
Softcover, 320 pages
Dimensions
23.4cm × 15.3cm

The Canon of Ancona Raffaele Martelli, missionary in Western Australia

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Due January 27, 2026.
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Born in Italy, Raffaele Martelli was headed for a brilliant career as a priest and professor but his passion for Italian unification and civil rights put him at odds with the church establishment. After a chance encounter with Rosendo Salvado, founder of the New Norcia Mission, he sailed to Fremantle in 1853, at the age of 42.

Directed by church authorities to work among the white population, his passion for social justice led him to build churches and schools, work side by side with Protestant pastors, and look out for the downtrodden. When he finally managed to work with Aboriginal people, the worsening nature of the colonial frontier presented challenges he felt unable to meet. The Canon of Ancona captures a unique voice in early Western Australia - the voice of an outsider.

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