Howling in the Wilderness, Diana Harris
Publication date: 13 April 2023
RRP: $33
ISBN: 978-1-99-117981-4
The Treaty of Waitangi – dramatised and seen from a different point of view
It is 1823 and Henry and Marianne Williams are on their way to New Zealand, full of optimism in their quest to bring the Gospel of Peace to the Māori people.
But the Māori, in particular Hongi Hika, are preoccupied with obeying the laws of utu and are in no mood for peacemaking.
And the white settlers are even less impressed with the missionaries’ presence...
This lively historical novel is a compelling account of the people, events, and the forces driving them that surrounded the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
“It is a masterfully crafted novel that breathes life into the experiences of significant figures of the era. The author’s nearly decade-long dedication to research and writing shines through, resulting in an engaging and thought-provoking read. For anyone interested in New Zealand history, this book is an absolute must-read, offering a richly detailed and captivating exploration of the country’s past. ”
About the Author
Diana Harris grew up in Christchurch and studied languages and literature at the University of Canterbury, before taking up a French Government Scholarship to study at the University of Grenoble, France. From there she went to London, where she ran the office for a company operating hotel barge cruises on canals in France.
On her return home she settled in Auckland, where she joined a publishing company and later worked as a freelance book editor for many years. However, after living overseas she realised what a special place Aotearoa/New Zealand is; she wanted to find out more about our history and the Māori culture, and she spent several years learning te reo Māori.
Her first book was The Kiwi Fact Book, followed by a children’s story, Guardian of the Bridge, about a taniwha who went to sleep a long time ago and woke up in today’s world; then came Litterbugs, a story in verse about recycling. At the same time she embarked on the epic Johnny Jones: A Colonial Saga, which traces the life of her great-great-great grandfather and which also recreates the people and events of the first half of the 19th century as it unfolded in the South Island.
Now she has completed Howling in the Wilderness, which covers the first half of the 19th century in the North Island, this time concentrating on the lives of Henry and Marianne Williams. She believes the early 19th century was a crucial time when Māori and Pākehā people began to intermingle and, in her opinion, it is the most fascinating part of the history of these, our beloved islands.
DIANA HARRIS IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW / EXTRACTS AND IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
Media contact: Karen McKenzie, Lighthouse PR, email: karen@lighthousepr.co.nz; mobile: 027 693 9044