1950s Australia. In the wake of war and dislocation, young Yorkshireman
Jimmy journeys to the outback, chasing escape but finding something far more
dangerous: the truth of himself and the land he now calls home.
What begins as a story of survival becomes a profound allegory of belonging, silence, and identity. As Jimmy collides with love and betrayal, he also encounters the enduring wisdom of the First Peoples — knowledge that most outsiders are too frightened to face, let alone write about.
Outback Odyssey is sweeping and cinematic, a novel of resilience threaded with unexpected twists and allegorical depth. Already under consideration for a screenplay adaptation, it peels back the myths of Australia’s past to reveal what lies beneath: the unspoken histories, the inherited traumas, and the courage it takes to walk a path that others fear.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bOvzQo
Paul Rushworth-Brown was born in England and raised in Canada before emigrating to Australia at eighteen, where he became a citizen. By twenty, he had already travelled the world twice, hitchhiked across Australia, and worked as a navvy in outback Queensland — experiences that gave him an enduring respect for resilience, culture, and the landscapes that shape human character.
He later completed a Master’s degree at Charles Sturt University, honing the research skills that underpin his richly detailed novels. A high school teacher and former professional football coach, Paul draws on a lifetime of experience to bring authenticity and depth to his writing.
His novels are known for their cinematic sweep, allegorical undercurrents, and unexpected twists. Outback Odyssey, his fourth book, is a tale of survival and belonging set against the vast backdrop of 1950s Australia. Beneath its page-turning adventure lie questions of identity, silence, and reconciliation — themes that echo long after the final page.
Paul lives in Sydney, where he writes, teaches, and continues to explore the intersections of history and identity.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.paulrushworthbrown.com
Twitter / X: https://x.com/Brown9Paul
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.brown.73157203/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.redwinterjourney
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/paul-rushworth-brown
Amazon Author Page: https://bit.ly/4g5kFgZ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19012235.Paul_Rushworth_Brown
Thank you so much for featuring Paul Rushworth-Brown on your lovely blog today, with his intriguing historical adventure, Outback Odyssey.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xo
The Coffee Pot Book Club
My pleasure.
DeleteThanks, Mary Ann, for shining a light on Outback Odyssey today. Paul’s years living and working in the Outback gave him more than just red dust in his boots—they shaped the heart of this story. Every scene carries the pulse of the land and the quiet resilience of the people who call it home.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a novel born from lived experience—part adventure, part reflection, and a reminder that sometimes the toughest journeys lead us back to who we really are.
— Amanda Smith, Media & Literary Analyst
Happy to have you.
DeleteI picked up Outback Odyssey after seeing a few Goodreads readers talking about it, and wow — this book hit me harder than I expected. On the surface, it’s a story about a young Yorkshireman in 1950s Australia, but underneath it’s a mirror held right up to your face. The allegory runs deep — about how we see others, and ourselves, when it comes to racism, silence, and the way Indigenous people have been treated since colonisation.
ReplyDeleteWhat I loved most is how Paul Rushworth-Brown doesn’t preach — he lets the land, the people, and the small moments do the talking. It reminded me a bit of The Secret River by Kate Grenville and even To Kill a Mockingbird in the way it exposes prejudice without losing heart.
This isn’t just historical fiction; it’s a gut-check. Beautifully written, raw, and utterly human.
I’ve been reading through the Goodreads reviews instead of writing my own, and honestly, they capture it perfectly. Everyone seems to take away something a bit different, which says a lot about the depth of the book.
ReplyDelete