“The Desert Bird” is a work by the French writer, author of numerous pulp, historical and adventure feuilleton novels and dramas E. Berthe (1815–1891). The novel was written in 1863. The action takes place in Australia in the 19th century during the Gold Rush. A noble nobleman, having set foot on a land where the thirst for profit reigns, becomes a clever creditor, ruthlessly playing on tragic circumstances and family secrets. At one time, the author was more popular than Dumas the Father. Berthe worked in many genres, discovering new themes. His novel “The Orangutan” appeared before E. Burroughs’ “Tarzan,” and “The Coal Miners of Poligny” inspired E. Zola’s novel “Germinal.” The author’s books have been translated into many languages, including Russian. Bertha also wrote the following works: “The Beast of Gevaudan”, “The Trembling Rock”, “The Lost Valley”, “Chauffeurs, or the Gang of Orgers”.