The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Eye Books
Published:19th Jul '19
Should be back in stock very soon
SHORTLISTED: New Zealand Heritage Book Awards
LONGLISTED: Ockham New Zealand Book Awards
LONGLISTED: International Dublin Literary Award
Exhibited as a curiosity, a Maori boy turns his gaze on London
‘A historical love letter to London, a coming-of-age story, a love story’ – Stella Duffy
SHORTLISTED: New Zealand Heritage Book Awards
LONGLISTED: Ockham New Zealand Book Awards
LONGLISTED: International Dublin Literary Award
James Poneke is a young Māori orphan, raised by missionaries, with a burning desire to travel and explore the world. When an English artist on a tour of New Zealand invites James to return home with him, the boy eagerly accepts and agrees to become a living exhibit at the artist’s London show.
By day, James dresses in full tribal outfit, being stared at, prodded and examined by paying visitors. By night, he is free to explore the city, but anything can happen to a young New Zealander on the savage streets of Victorian London and James is unprepared for the wonders, dangers and unearthed secrets that await.
The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke is an unforgettable work of historical fiction in the spirit of Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry.
‘A historical love letter to London, a coming-of-age story, a love story… do yourself a favour, read it’ -- Stella Duffy
‘A riveting vision of the world seen from the inside out. The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke is a gutsy, searing and totally absorbing read. I loved it all the way’
‘Made streets I’ve walked a thousand times seem new and strange’ -- Damian Barr
‘Hemi has a voice that redresses some of the air-brushed history of empire but more than anything his novel is a fascinating coming of age’ * NB Magazine *
‘The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke is many things: part unsparing colonial reckoning; part fraught coming-of-age memoir; part PT Barnum-inflected tale of spectacle, showmanship and the picaresque’ * NZ Listener *
‘A historical love letter to London, a coming-of-age story, a love story… do yourself a favour, read it’ - Stella Duffy || ‘A riveting vision of the world seen from the inside out. The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke is a gutsy, searing and totally absorbing read. I loved it all the way’ || ‘Hemi has a voice that redresses some of the air-brushed history of empire but more than anything his novel is a fascinating coming of age’ - NB Magazine || ‘Made streets I’ve walked a thousand times seem new and strange’ - Damian Barr || ‘The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke is many things: part unsparing colonial reckoning; part fraught coming-of-age memoir; part PT Barnum-inflected tale of spectacle, showmanship and the picaresque’ - NZ Listener
‘A historical love letter to London, a coming-of-age story, a love story… do yourself a favour, read it’ - Stella Duffy || ‘A riveting vision of the world seen from the inside out. The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke is a gutsy, searing and totally absorbing read. I loved it all the way’ || ‘Hemi has a voice that redresses some of the air-brushed history of empire but more than anything his novel is a fascinating coming of age’ - NB Magazine || ‘Made streets I’ve walked a thousand times seem new and strange’ - Damian Barr || ‘The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke is many things: part unsparing colonial reckoning; part fraught coming-of-age memoir; part PT Barnum-inflected tale of spectacle, showmanship and the picaresque’ - NZ Listener
- Commended for International Dublin Literary Award 2020
- Commended for Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2019
- Short-listed for New Zealand Heritage Book Awards 2019
ISBN: 9781785631528
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 24mm
Weight: 212g
256 pages