Harley, a man of Nyoongar ancestry, finds himself at a difficult point in the history of his country, family and self. As the apparently successful outcome of his white grandfather's enthusiastic attempts to isolate and breed the 'first white man born', he wants to be a failure. But would such failure mean his Nyoongar ancestors could label him a success? And how can the attempted genocide represented by his family history be told?
Harley, a man of Nyoongar ancestry, finds himself at a difficult point in the history of his country, family and self. As the apparently successful outcome of his white grandfather's enthusiastic attempts to isolate and breed the 'first white man born', he wants to be a failure. But would such failure mean his Nyoongar ancestors could label him a success? And how can the attempted genocide represented by his family history be told?
Harley, a man of Nyoongar ancestry, finds himself at a difficult point in the history of his country, family and self.
Kim Scott is a descendant of people living along the south coast of Western Australia prior to colonisation, and is proud to be one among those who call themselves Noongar. Kim began writing for publication when he became a teacher of English. He is currently based at Curtin University in Western Australia as Professor of Writing, in the School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts. Kim's most recent novel, That Deadman Dance, is also a Miles Franklin Award winner.
"Benang is brilliant. It is a mature, complex, sweeping historical
novel which will remind people of Rushdie, Carey and Grenville at
their best. This is an absolute page turner and in the end we are
left with a sense of joy and gratitude that such stories are still
possible that the silence has been broken." -- Sydney Morning
Herald
" Benang soars to the level of superb storytelling with an
emotional punch to the guts, not unlike Toni Morrisons Beloved." --
Weekend Australian
"Haunting and poignant, Benang pierces the heart even as it seeks
to lance the savage bleeding of the wounds of white settlement in
Australia." -- Canberra Times
Kate Challis RAKA Award (Winner 2001). Miles Franklin Award (Winner
2000). Queensland Premiers Literary Award (Shortlisted 2000).
Tasmania Pacific Literary Award (Shortlisted 2001). Dublin IMPAC
Literary Award (Longlisted 2000). Western Australian Premiers Book
Award Fiction Prize (Winner 1999)
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