Albert of Adelaide

What does it take to become a hero? Albert, our hero-in-the-making, has escaped from the Adelaide Zoo to go in search of the 'old Australia', somewhere in the desert, north of Adelaide, a 'Promised Land' that hes heard so much about from other animals. Unusually, Albert is a duck-billed platypus. Four days north of Alice Springs and carrying nothing other than an old, almost empty soft drink bottle, Albert has no idea where hes going. One thing he does know, though, if he doesnt find water fast, hes going to be in all sorts of trouble. But when all seems lost, he comes across a wombat by a campfire who offers him a cup of tea. And so begins Alberts adventures, during which he meets some drunk, wise-cracking bandicoots (Roger and Alvin), a wrestling Tasmanian Devil (called Muldoon), escapes from a burning hotel (set alight by the pyromaniac wombat Jack) after a very lucky streak at two-up, and runs for his life from the dingoes. Charming, funny and entrancing, Albert of Adelaide is a novel of adventure, mateship and honour.