South of the Sun

288 pp. Introduction by Roy Chapman Andrews. A novel by Australian author Russell Owen, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his reports from the first Byrd South Pole Expedition (1928-30). Owen Peak was named for him after the trip. The book follows the story of a young man named Tom, who has lived his whole life in a small, isolated town in rural Australia. Tom is restless and yearns for adventure, so when he meets a charismatic stranger named Jack, he jumps at the chance to join him on a journey across the country. Together, Tom and Jack travel through the harsh and beautiful Australian outback, encountering a range of characters and situations along the way. They face danger, hardship, and moments of profound beauty as they make their way towards the southern coast. As they journey deeper into the heart of the country, Tom begins to question his own identity and the life he left behind. A coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, friendship, and the search for meaning in a vast and unpredictable world.