From an African-born science teacher and researcher comes a book which looks into the life of ‘Australia’s greatest explorers’, Charles Sturt.

Migrating to Australia 20 years ago, author Ivan Rudolph consumes a love of the bush that has developed into an inquisition into early Australian icons.

'Sturt’s Desert Drama', published by CQU Press, is Rudoph’s 12th book. His first was on the life and work of John Flynn and the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service. He followed this huge success with two books titled 'Flynn’s Outback Angels', volumes 1 and 2.

In his latest work, Rudolph creates a readable book for all Australians that will change the way they view Sturt and Australian exploration forever.

“I wanted to find out what drove Sturt, the greatest of Australian explorers. My three years’ research has uncovered both a fascinating adventure and a rich heritage,” Rudoph explained.

Rudolph draws the reader into Sturt’s 1844 expedition quoting freely from eyewitness accounts.

CQU Press Publisher Professor David Myers said: “Researched from original material that is cluttered by a great deal of extraneous detail, Rudolph’s book highlights important details missed by other writers.

“He gives attention to the progressive influence of scurvy on the personalities of the leaders and Browne’s conjecture that Lake Torrens was not a single lake at all.

“He also gives an empathetic account of the men; one that appreciates their courage and achievements, while not glossing over their weaknesses".

In the book Sturt emerges as a strong leader with lightning moods, but whose expertise in making the big decisions was extraordinary. Sturt’s openness to intuition at moments of crisis is unexpected, while his shortcomings with mundane daily planning are disappointing.

Sturt’s Desert Drama is available through CQU Press via the website www.outbackbooks.com . RRP $36.95.