While British soldiers and settlers colonised Australia, French scientists continued to explore its coastlines and study its strange flora and fauna. First published in 2007, this winner of the Victorian Premier's Award for Non-Fiction is an exhilarating expedition through a key period in the history of science.

Danielle Clode's work includes essays, natural history writing, science-writing, historical fiction and best-selling children's books. Her books have won the Whitley Award for popular zoology and have been shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia awards. Her 2010 examination of Australia's complex relationship with fire, A Future In Flames, is also in the Untapped Collection. For more information visit danielleclode.com.au