PRESS RELEASE: English-born Australian Author Paul Rushworth-Brown Delivers a Hauntingly Honest Exploration of Australia’s Past and the Stories Long Silenced

English-born Australian Author Paul Rushworth-Brown Delivers a Hauntingly Honest Exploration of Australia’s Past and the Stories Long Silenced

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA—Paul Rushworth-Brown’s acclaimed novel Outback Odyssey is more than a sweeping work of historical fiction—it is a heartfelt reckoning with a past too often overlooked, written by an English-born Australian who feels deeply the weight of what was lost and what still needs to be understood.

The novel spans two pivotal moments in Australia’s history—the colonial frontier of 19th-century Victoria and the influx of post-war British migrants in the 1950s—and follows Jimmy, a young Yorkshireman struggling to find his place in a foreign and sacred land. When the Munarrakalai people take in Jimmy, his survival becomes a spiritual transformation, guided by the ancient knowledge of Elder Jarrah and shaped by a growing awareness of the land’s true custodians.

With unflinching honesty and reverence, Outback Odyssey does not shy away from hard truths. Rather than romanticising colonisation, the novel honours the enduring wisdom of First Nations people and reflects on the profound injustices they have faced. At its core, it is a story of listening—of recognising that the deepest truths come not from those who took the land, but from those who never left it.

“This story came from a place of reflection and sorrow,” says Rushworth-Brown. “As someone who emigrated from England and came to call this land home, I’ve often felt a quiet grief about how little I was taught—how much was silenced. This book is my way of listening, learning, and paying respect.”

Despite its strong Australian themes and setting, Outback Odyssey initially struggled to find a publisher on home soil—forcing Rushworth-Brown to take his manuscript to the United States, where a more receptive audience embraced its message and vision. It was there, through Historiumpress, that the novel found a path to publication and critical acclaim.

With its lyrical prose and richly cinematic scenes, Outback Odyssey has been praised for its depth, emotional clarity, and educational relevance. It has already been nominated for a NSW Premier’s Literary Award and is being hailed as essential reading for Australians of all backgrounds.

History teacher Cameron Westlake agrees: “Outback Odyssey doesn’t just transport readers—it challenges them. It opens space for reflection and difficult but necessary conversation. It’s the kind of book I wish every student could read.”

For book clubs, schools, and anyone seeking fiction that dares to tell the whole story, Outback Odyssey offers a poignant, powerful reminder: reconciliation begins with truth, and truth begins with listening.

Title: Outback Odyssey
Author: Paul Rushworth-Brown
Nominee: NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Fiction
More Info: https://www.historiumpress.com/paul-rushworth-brown
Contact: Dee Marley – [email protected]
Available: 30 May 2025