Otherland

Discover a compelling narrative that intertwines personal memory and historical upheaval in this extraordinary trade paperback. Shortlisted for the prestigious Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction and honored with the Community Relations Commission Award in NSW, this book invites readers into a vivid exploration of Russia and Ukraine's tumultuous evolution since 1991. Maria Tumarkin, alongside her daughter Billie, embarks on a poignant journey back to her heritage, unveiling the cultural and political transformations that define her homeland. Relive the changes from the fall of the Soviet Union to the emergence of a new identity, as they wander through cities that hold echoes of history and significance. This 320-page memoir captures the essence of mother-daughter bonds, navigating through disparate experiences and generations marked by conflict and resilience. Tumarkin's storytelling illuminates how the personal intersects with the political, making this a must-read for anyone interested in modern history, migration, and the search for belonging. Engage with the narrative that boldly tackles memory and identity in contemporary cultural discourse. Plus, enjoy FREE shipping on this insightful book. Note: Combined shipping with other products is not available, and please allow up to 10 days for delivery.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781741666793
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2010
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE AUSTRALIA
Pages: 320


Description:
Shortlisted for the Douglas Stewart prize for non fiction and the Community Relations Commission Award in NS W and the Age Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

I left too early, before tanks rolled into Moscow in 1991, and before Gorbachev was put under home arrest in a failed coup. I left before Russia and Ukraine became separate countries, before the KGB archives were opened, before the Russian version of Wheel of Fortune, before the word 'Gulag' appeared in textbooks. I left before Chechnya, before the mass renaming of cities and streets, before you could go into a shop and actually purchase the books of Brodsky, Pasternak and Nabokov. I left too early, I missed the whole point. I was not there when my generation was cornered by history.

Maria Tumarkin travels with her Australian-born teenage daughter, Billie, back to Russia and Ukraine to have her experience first-hand the seismic shifts of her family's native country. For Maria the trip back is no simple stroll down memory lane. Splintered and scattered across the world, her generation has ended up inhabiting vastly different realities.

Along with exploring the political and cultural fallout of a century of turmoil, Maria wanted to bring together the worlds of her mother and daughter - the different continents, histories and experiences they encompassed. Before they set off, Maria wistfully imagined her and Billie's hearts beating in unison as they travelled back to a past they could both understand, forging a nearly superhuman bond along the way. But, in Maria and Billie's case, the past was not simply another country, but one that no longer existed.
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.