THE NATURALIST'S DAUGHTER

Corinne Davies performs this story of scientific discovery with aplomb. The setting is New South Wales, and Davies gives broad Australian accents to naturalist Charles Winton and his teenage daughter, Rose. In 1808, they are studying the mysterious platypus, or mallangong. Subsequently, Rose, whom Davies voices as young but determined, travels to London to report their findings to the Royal Society, which is filled with patrician and academic-sounding members. A century later, Sydney librarian/archivist Tamsin Alleyn is determined to collect the Wintons' sketchbooks. Davies's riveting performance captures the drama as Alleyn seeks to learn more about the artists who first drew the images of the platypus. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]