Who wrote the book, 'The Fatal Shore?

Question

The person is Australian, quite well known, and had a serious
road accident in Western Australia, some years ago.

Answer 1

Robert Hughes.

Robert Studley Forrest Hughes AO, (born July 28, 1938), who is usually known as Robert Hughes, is an art critic, writer and television documentary maker. Hughes has lived in New York for over 30 years.

In 1987 The Fatal Shore, his study of the British convict settlements in Australia, became an international best-seller.

On May 28, 1999, during a brief return to Australia, Hughes was seriously injured in a vehicle accident near Broome, Western Australia.

Answer 2

Robert Hughes