Discover the enchanting narrative of 'A Strange Beautiful Excitement', a captivating hardback book by renowned author Redmer Yska. This literary masterpiece spans 296 pages and unfolds the compelling story of how a city, specifically Wellington, shapes a writer. Yska intricately weaves a vivid tapestry of Katherine Mansfield's childhood, taking readers on a wild ride through her formative years in the picturesque yet rugged landscapes of Thorndon and the serene valley of Karori. As Yska retraces Mansfield's footsteps, he blends fact and fiction, biography and memoir, uncovering the sights, sounds, and smells of a colonial capital that played a pivotal role in her development. Through meticulous research into Mansfield's Beauchamp ancestry and the vibrant social milieu, the author challenges time-worn narratives, inviting readers to rediscover this literary icon's Wellington. Praised by literary figures such as Dame Fiona Kidman and Kathleen Jones, this extraordinary book sheds new light on Mansfield's legacy. With dimensions of 150 x 198 mm, this beautifully bound hardback is an essential addition to any literary collection. Order now and experience a journey through time and memory that brings to life the rich cultural tapestry of Wellington. We are happy to combine shipping. As a NZ owned business based in Auckland, we ensure this product is in stock, eliminating unexpected import charges or taxes.

CONDITION: Brand New
Dimensions: 150 x 198 mm
Pages: 296
Bind: hardback
Author: Redmer Yska Publisher: Otago University Press
Publication Date: 24-07-2017

How does a city make a writer? Described by Fiona Kidman as a ‘ravishing, immersing read’, A Strange Beautiful Excitement is a ‘wild ride’ through the Wellington of Katherine Mansfield’s childhood. From the grubby, wind-blasted streets of Thorndon to the hushed green valley of Karori, author Redmer Yska, himself raised in Karori, retraces Mansfield’s old ground: the sights, sounds and smells of the rickety colonial capital, as experienced by the budding writer. Along the way his encounters and dogged research – into her Beauchamp ancestry, the social landscape, the festering, deadly surroundings – lead him (and us) to reevaluate long-held conclusions about the writer’s shaping years. They also lead to a thrilling discovery. This haunting and beautifully vivid book combines fact and fiction, biography and memoir, as Yska rediscovers Mansfield’s Wellington, unearthing her childhood as he goes, shining a new lamp on old territory. "It’s not enough to say I immensely enjoyed A Strange Beautiful Excitement … it’s simply splendid." – Dame Fiona Kidman "… the best account I have ever read of Wellington and Karori as they were in Mansfield’s day … Vivid and vigorous, it is a pleasure to read." – Kathleen Jones, KM biographer

We are happy to combine shipping. Smartfox is a NZ owned business located in Auckland. This product is in stock in NZ which means no unexpected import charges, custom duty or tax.