Monsters

Discover the profound layers of identity and colonial history in 'Monsters' by Alison Croggon, an award-winning writer and critic. This powerful memoir and essay blend offers an unflinching exploration of the complexities surrounding family and power dynamics. Each page scrutinizes the lingering impacts of colonialism and patriarchy, revealing how these structures distort our realities. Croggon delves deep into the emotional landscape forged by painful relationships, particularly between sisters, and reflects on the sacrifices we make to uphold our self-created narratives. With 288 pages of insightful prose, 'Monsters' invites readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about themselves and their heritage. This trade paperback edition, published by Scribe Publications in 2021, is a must-read for anyone interested in social critique, memoirs that challenge perceptions, and literature that dares to question societal structures. Experience a story that is both personal and political, filled with gorgeous language and critical reflection. Order 'Monsters' today for FREE shipping at Smartfox NZ and embark on a transformative reading journey. Note: Combined shipping for other products is not available with this item, so please allow up to 10 days for delivery.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781925713398
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2021
Publisher: Scribe Publications
Pages: 288


Description:
'This figure I see in the foreground, this me. How monstrous am I? What does it mean to be a monster? From Latin monstrum, meaning an abomination ... grotesque, hideous, ugly, ghastly, gruesome, horrible ...

'I was born as part of a monstrous structure - the grotesque, hideous, ugly, ghastly, gruesome, horrible relations of power that constituted colonial Britain. A structure that shaped me, that shapes the very language that I speak and use and love. I am the daughter of an empire that declared itself the natural order of the world.'

From award-winning writer and critic Alison Croggon, Monsters is a hybrid of memoir and essay that takes as its point of departure the painful breakdown of a relationship between two sisters. It explores how our attitudes are shaped by the persisting myths that underpin colonialism and patriarchy, how the structures we are raised within splinter and distort the possibilities of our lives and the lives of others. Monsters asks how we maintain the fictions that we create about ourselves, what we will sacrifice to maintain these fictions - and what we have to gain by confronting them.


'A marvel of a book ... Croggon spares no one, least of all herself, as she unearths colonial history and family complicity to scrutinise those demons that both torment and shape us. This is exactly the kind of book I have longed to see white authors write, and I love it for its refusal to provide easy answers to the dilemma at the heart of the modern human condition.'
-Ruby Hamad, author of White Tears/Brown Scars

This product has FREE shipping however combined shipping for other products is not available with this item. Please allow up to 10 days for shipping.