This work investigates the catastrophic failure of the 1860-1861 Victorian Exploring Expedition, which sought to be the first to traverse the Australian continent from south to north. Alan Moorehead, a renowned historian and journalist, utilizes primary source journals and historical records to analyze how the leadership of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led to a tragic outcome despite their initial success in reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Historians and critics frequently cite this work as a definitive and accessible account of one of Australia's most significant historical tragedies. Readers often note the narrative clarity and the author's ability to balance meticulous research with a compelling, dramatic prose style.