Details

The Artist is a breathtaking verse novel by Ruby Solly (Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu), longlisted for the 2024 Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry. In this luminous work, Solly brings the histories, landscapes, and spirit of the southern iwi vividly to life through a seamless blend of poetry, mythology, and song.

From the darkness of black sand, a world is sung into being — a world that exists for itself, not for us. In this southern land, twins with otherworldly gifts are born to a stone carver and his wife. As they grow, the land and its stories rise to meet them — cave art leaps from walls, pounamu birds sing, and ancestral voices echo across generations.

Rich in imagery and emotion, The Artist explores whakapapa, belonging, and identity, celebrating the turangawaewae — our place to stand, our place to sing.

Key Features:
• Lyrical verse novel intertwining poetry, myth, and southern Maori history
• Explores whakapapa, identity, and cultural landscapes
• Infused with magical realism and deep spiritual resonance
• Perfect for readers of poetry, Maori storytelling, and literary fiction

Product Details:
• Author: Ruby Solly
• Format: Softcover
• ISBN: 9781776920709

Disclaimer: COLOUR VARIATION – images may differ slightly from the actual product due to device settings.