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The Matriarch

Rating
240 Ratings by Goodreads |
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Format
Paperback, 512 pages
Published
NZ, 30 January 2009

The matriarch is a woman of intelligence, wit, beauty and ruthlessness, and has become a mythical figure through her fight to repossess the land and sustain her people against the ravages wrought by the Pakeha. Priestess of the Ringatu faith, she has been virtually a law unto herself. In his search for the truth behind the legends surrounding the matriarch, his grandmother, Tama Mahana delves deeper and deeper into Maori history and lore to understand the mysterious sources of her power and ambition. Witi Ihimaera's prose is at turns lyrical and spare, sensuous and savage. Weaving fact with fiction, this remarkable odyssey into New Zealand history is a novel of stunning imaginative power.


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Product Description

The matriarch is a woman of intelligence, wit, beauty and ruthlessness, and has become a mythical figure through her fight to repossess the land and sustain her people against the ravages wrought by the Pakeha. Priestess of the Ringatu faith, she has been virtually a law unto herself. In his search for the truth behind the legends surrounding the matriarch, his grandmother, Tama Mahana delves deeper and deeper into Maori history and lore to understand the mysterious sources of her power and ambition. Witi Ihimaera's prose is at turns lyrical and spare, sensuous and savage. Weaving fact with fiction, this remarkable odyssey into New Zealand history is a novel of stunning imaginative power.

Product Details
EAN
9780143010920
ISBN
0143010921
Age Range
Dimensions
19.7 x 13 x 3.8 centimetres (0.38 kg)

About the Author

Witi Ihimaera was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, in 1944. He was a pioneer of Maori writing in English: his first collection, Pounamu Pounamu (1972), was followed by Tangi (1973), the first novel by a Maori. A hard-working writer and editor, his works include novels, short-story collections, children's books, plays and numerous anthologies. His book The Whale Rider has been made into a successful international film, which won the Toronto Film Festival People's Choice Award in 2002. Ihimaera is professor of English at the University of Auckland, teaching creative writing and indigenous literature.

Customer Reviews
4.12 out of 5 | From 240 Goodreads Ratings

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By Mikaela on May 27, 2010
I love this novel as it talks about my home town in the 70's! Interesting novel that looks at maori roots and small village communities in rural NZ. I believe that this and it's sequel The Dream Swimmer have interesting flashbacks to NZ history and it's influenece on maori population and village life. The esoteric nature of some of the themes adds an interesting twist to an already powerful character in Riripeti Mahana.
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By on May 19, 2009
A story about a man who is trying to find out the family secret. Tama's uncle has just died. He then trys to find the cause. All the extended whanau despise him and his own, so with some digging he trys to discover whats wrong with there whanau. He discovers many myths about his grandmother, is caught between a war which is happening between his mother and grandmother, while discovering his families connection to Te Kooti. This book will keep you engrosed. It's full of drama and excitmernt, while also providing a useful knowledge of NZ history.
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