Join ABC Radio National’s Paul Barclay  in conversation with mammalogist, palaeontologist and environmentalist Tim Flannery to discuss his new book, Europe: A Natural History.

Australia’s leading conservationist, explorer and global warming activist, Tim Flannery has written over 20 books and was awarded Australian of the Year in 2007. He now takes a close look at the natural history of Europe.

Written in Flannery’s trademark accessible and engaging style, Europe: A Natural History is full of surprises. It is where the first coral reefs formed. It was once home to some of the world’s largest elephants. And it played a vital role in the evolution of our own species.

When the first modern humans arrived in Europe 40,000 years ago, they began to exert an astonishing influence on the continent’s flora and fauna, and now, Europeans lead the way in wildlife restoration. This enthralling ecological history is more than the story of Europe and the Europeans, it will change our understanding of life itself.