The gripping historical fiction “Outback Odyssey” by Paul Rushworth-Brown — a journey through the untamed Australian wilderness
Paul Rushworth-Brown featured on RTRFM's 'On the Record' discussing Outback Odyssey and the powerful themes behind the novel.
On this episode of PSI TV, we sit down with award-winning Australian author Paul Rushworth Brown to explore his compelling novel
The gripping historical fiction “Outback Odyssey” by Paul Rushworth-Brown — a journey through the untamed Australian wilderness
Paul Rushworth-Brown featured on RTRFM's 'On the Record' discussing Outback Odyssey and the powerful themes behind the novel.
On this episode of PSI TV, we sit down with award-winning Australian author Paul Rushworth Brown to explore his compelling novel
Readers are drawing striking parallels between Paul Rushworth-Brown’s Outback Odyssey and To Kill a Mockingbird
SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA, August 12, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- International acclaim for Outback Odyssey. Some readers are calling Outback Odyssey, the latest novel by Australian author Paul Rushworth-Brown, “Australia’s To Kill a Mockingbird.” The comparison may sound bold, but it reflects the novel’s ability to hold a mirror to the nation and confront uncomfortable truths through a deeply human story.
Harper Lee’s American classic shone a light on injustice, prejudice, and moral courage without resorting to polemic. In much the same way, Outback Odyssey tells a character-driven story set in 1950s Australia that resonates far beyond its historical setting.
Outback Odyssey follows Jimmy, a young Yorkshire migrant abandoned in the outback and taken in by a First Nations clan. As he learns to survive in a land steeped in ancient knowledge and colonial scars, his journey becomes a moral awakening — forcing him, and the reader, to confront questions about belonging, respect, and national identity.
Why the comparison resonates:
Confronting a national silence – To Kill a Mockingbird explored racial injustice in America; Outback Odyssey examines Australia’s colonial legacy and First Nations resilience.
A young outsider’s moral awakening – Both Scout Finch and Jimmy see their adopted worlds with unclouded eyes, learning hard truths that shape their values.
Place as a living character – Maycomb, Alabama, and the Australian outback both serve as moral landscapes that shape the narrative as much as any person.
Allegory beneath the surface – Both novels tell compelling human stories that reveal deeper societal truths without overt preaching.
Would Outback Odyssey Have Been Banned in the 1950s?
If Outback Odyssey had been published in 1950s Australia, it might never have made it past the censors — not because of explicit content, but because of what it dared to say.
In that era, Australia was still under the White Australia Policy, and most First Nations people were denied full citizenship rights. A novel placing an Aboriginal clan at the heart of the story, portraying their culture with depth and dignity, and showing a white migrant learning from them, would have challenged the dominant narrative of the time.
Most recently, Rushworth-Brown appeared on RTRFM 92.1’s On the Record with Jeff Bullen, discussing the inspiration behind Outback Odyssey and its parallels to To Kill a Mockingbird.
Public discussion of massacres, dispossession, and colonial scars was almost nonexistent in the 1950s. History books told a one-sided story of settlement, and works that suggested a reckoning with the past risked being branded “unpatriotic” or “subversive.”
While Australia didn’t always ban such books outright, quiet suppression was common. The Commonwealth Literature Censorship Board and customs authorities regularly blocked “undesirable” imports, and local publishers often avoided politically sensitive material to sidestep trouble. Even if printed, a book like Outback Odyssey could have faced boycotts from schools, libraries, and community groups — effectively erasing it from public reach.
In that sense, Outback Odyssey would have faced the same resistance as To Kill a Mockingbird did in the United States: not for what it got wrong, but for the uncomfortable truths it got right before the country was ready to hear them.
About the Author Paul Rushworth-Brown is an English-born Australian novelist known for transforming historical fiction into a powerful form of truth-telling. His work blends meticulous research with immersive storytelling, exploring themes of identity, culture, and resilience. His novels include Skulduggery, Red Winter Journey, and Dream of Courage.
Most recently, Rushworth-Brown appeared on RTRFM 92.1’s On the Record with Jeff Bullen, discussing the inspiration behind Outback Odyssey and its parallels to To Kill a Mockingbird.
Media Contact: Hayley Brown hayleybrownpa@gmail.com
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Outback Odyssey, An Outback, First Nations Historical Fiction
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