Upside Down World

Science & Nature History Australiana

Penny Olsen’s illustrated paperback Upside Down World invites readers into the strange, charming moment when eighteenth- and nineteenth-century European artists first painted Australia’s curious wildlife. Through 240 generously sized pages, Olsen tracks how painters, engravers and naturalists tried to make sense of kangaroos, koalas and platypuses for audiences who had never imagined such creatures.

Richly illustrated with prints, sketches and early colour plates from the National Library of Australia’s archives, the book shows how inaccurate first impressions gradually gave way to more faithful portraits, shaping both science and popular culture. Along the way it becomes a lively biography of the artists, the animals, and the young colony itself.

Ideal for nature lovers, art enthusiasts, students of Australian history or anyone who enjoys a beautifully produced animal art book, this 2010 first edition delivers serious scholarship in an engaging, accessible voice. The generous page size lets the artwork breathe, while Olsen’s concise commentary keeps the narrative moving.

This copy is in very good, clean condition: no writing, no dog-ears, just light edge wear to the illustrated cover. A sturdy, ready-to-read volume for your Australiana or natural history shelf.