A review by ljm57
The Naturalist's Daughter by Tea Cooper

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this Australian historical novel which centres around the western world’s discovery and scientific documentation of the rare and elusive platypus. Early reports of which were received with disbelief and scorn by members of London’s Royal Society, headed by a supportive, but ailing, Sir Joseph Banks. Intertwined storylines, a century apart, feature two strong female characters who are both ahead of their times. Rose Winton, in the early 1800s shares her father’s passion for this mysterious creature, unique in the animal world. She helps him to create a comprehensive record of the platypus’s appearance, behaviours and characteristics. 100 years later, librarian Tamsin Alleyn is assigned the task of authenticating Winton’s sketchbook, a task that throws up more riddles than answers. All aspects of this book are well done - the history, the scientific endeavour, the landscapes in both Australia and England, the characters are well-developed and everything ties together with a satisfying conclusion.