Peat

Discover the profound insights of 'Peat' by Lynn Jenner, an enriching exploration of the K?piti Expressway's construction from 2013 to 2017. This paperback book, sized at 150 x 230 mm with 286 pages, delves into the intricate relationship between infrastructure and the environment. In 'Peat', Jenner embarks on a journey to document the Road of National Significance, examining not just the physical construction but the far-reaching implications for the local community and natural landscape. Through her meticulous research, she intertwines reflections on the eminent New Zealand poet Charles Brasch, seeking to understand his perspectives on nature and society during the mid-20th century. The book is a unique blend of memoir, poetry, and investigative writing, offering fresh viewpoints on contemporary issues. As she navigates the noise of pile-driving and the starkness of concrete, Jenner presents a haunting and fearless narrative that resonates deeply with readers interested in environmental themes, New Zealand literature, and the intersection of art and activism. 'Peat' is a compelling read for those who appreciate thoughtful prose that encourages contemplation of our world's evolving relationship with infrastructure and nature.

Author: Lynn Jenner Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 150 x 230 mm
Pages: 286
Publication Date: 16-07-2019

Peat starts out as Lynn Jenner’s study of the K?piti Expressway, built between 2013 and 2017 and passing, at its nearest point, about a kilometre from her own house. She decides to create a kind of archive of the construction of this so-called Road of National Significance. How did it come to be built? What is its character? Who will win and who will lose from its construction? What will be its impact on the local environment? Jenner begins a quest to find a fellow writer with different sensibilities to help her think about the natural world the road traverses. New Zealand-born poet, editor, art collector and philanthropist Charles Brasch is her choice. Researching Brasch will be her refuge from the constant pile-driving and the sprawling concrete, and perhaps the poet will offer some ways of thinking that will help her understand contemporary events. She reads and reflects on Brasch’s memoir, some of his poems, his journals and his letters to the local paper. She thinks about Brasch in the context of his family and New Zealand in the 1940s-60s, and she reads local papers. She reads the official handouts about the road and listens to people in her local community when they talk about the road. From there Lynn Jenner carefully builds her unconventional text, layer upon layer, into an intelligent and beautifully refracted work that is haunting, fearless, and utterly compelling.