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Of Marsupials and Men recounts the fascinating and often hilarious history of the men and women who dedicated their lives to understanding Australia's native animals.
To the first European colonists, Australian wildlife was bewildering. Marsupials and gum trees seemed strange and hostile; rabbits, sheep and oak trees were familiar and safe. A bustling animal trade soon developed in both directions: foxes, starlings and other reminders of 'home' were unleashed on the Australian landscape, while countless Australian animals found themselves in Europe as stuffed specimens or living curiosities in zoos and private collections.
Into this picture stepped a remarkable band of enthusiastic amateurs who were determined to get to know the fauna of the new colony. Equal parts inspiring and outlandish, over the next 150 years they would advance scientific understanding and transform public attitudes to Australian wildlife. From the 'snake men' who fearlessly thrust their arms into hollow logs just to see what might happen, to the top-secret plan to smuggle a platypus to Winston Churchill at the height of World War II, these are their stories.
Alistair Paton is the co-author of Discovering Grampians-Gariwerd and a regular contributor to travel and outdoors publications. He has worked at News Corp for twenty years and his current role is as digital editor in the national sports network. He is passionate about wild places and wild animals and lives in Melbourne with his wife Hanna and a slightly domesticated terrier cross Lenny.
"A fascinating history of Australia's wildlife and the wilder men and women who shot, studied and saved it [...] Compelling and entertaining."
– David Hunt
"Paton is an affable and enthusiastic guide, marvelling at the skill, fervour and dedication of his subjects while highlighting the darker side of their pursuits [...]"
– Books+Publishing
"Unusual, fascinating, inspiring and mostly unknown anecdotes from the story of the Australian bush fill much of Paton's book."
– Queensland Reviewers Collective
"Alistair Paton's Of Marsupials and Men is an engaging take on our natural history."
– Australian Geographic
"[...] filled with interesting quotes, quirky details, and historical asides that bring to life the thoughts, beliefs, actions and stories of the past."
– ArtsHub
"Of Marsupials and Men is an entertaining and well-researched overview of the colonial discovery of the fauna and flora of this truly incredible continent and its adjacent islands."
– Nigel Featherstone, The Armidale Express
"With its light humorous tone and wide range of characters, Paton's book is an easy and entertaining read."
– Australian Rural & Regional News
"Of Marsupials and Men shows that, for all their destruction, early Europeans were ignorant of the interdependence between humans and animals. We no longer have that excuse."
– Kurt Johnson, The Saturday Paper
"Of Marsupials and Men by Alistair Paton reads like a boys' own adventure book (and is a great cautionary tale for young people)."
– Law Society of NSW Journal
