A Piece of Red Cloth

Leonie Norrington, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga , Djawundil Maymuru

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English

Allen & Unwin
01 February 2025

Historical fiction; Indigenous peoples; Australian Fiction

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It's early in the wet season. A flock of crested terns sweeps into the bay and dives towards Batjani. The birds are saying the foreigners are coming, as they do every year, but why are they so full of menace?

Batjani's beloved granddaughter Garritji is on the cusp of womanhood, about to go through the rituals preparing her for marriage. Batjani uses all means at her disposal to protect her granddaughter from the visiting Macassan trepang fishers, but she is betrayed. Can Garritji be saved?

This powerful and unique novel is based on oral history and told through Yolngu eyes, with ancestors as the Yolngu remember them: proud, strong, resilient people in control of their world and interacting with foreigners on their own terms.

'Told through the voices of the people who know it best, all those deeply important events from times long before Cook imagined a Southern Land.' - Debra Dank

'A rich and transportive novel' - Books+Publishing

'We've been waiting a long time for a book like this ... [A] breathtaking re-imagining of history and place.' - Nicholas Jose

'A glimpse into pre-colonial Australia and a world still powerfully alive in the Yolngu imagination.' - Kim Mahood

'With all the colour and sensuality of slow-paced life on Country, the novel suddenly moves towards its action-filled resolution.' - Stephen Muecke

By: Leonie Norrington, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga, Djawundil Maymuru
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
Weight: 413g
ISBN: 9781761471315
ISBN 10: 1761471317
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 01 February 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Leonie Norrington is a multi-award-winning north Australian author who grew up in the Barunga community in Arnhem Land. She writes for children and adults in both fiction and non-fiction. Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga and Djawundil Maymuruare Yolŋu cultural custodians. Merrkiyawuy and Djawundil are co-authors of Welcome to My Country and Songspirals.