A family emigrates from Scotland to New Zealand. What do they bring with them? What do they leave behind?
Through 24 poems members of the family tell their stories: from a Scottish worker in an early rope-making factory, to a tightrope walker of the 1990s; from a grieving mother on an immigrant ship, to the mystified cousin of a young sex-worker. The Rope Walk twists and binds the ties that connect these generations of a fictional family.
Each poem brings a distinct and different voice, together creating a rich and vivid history. A confident and impressive debut collection from an already skilled poet. The Rope Walk, a handsome hand-bound collection, boasts a letterpress-printed cover, with a die-cut peeking through to a linocut of a sailing ship. The cover and linocut were designed and printed by Joe Buchanan. The first edition is limited to 150 hand-numbered copies.
Maria McMillan has been writing poetry for many years, and The Rope Walk is her much-anticipated first collection.
Maria has studied politics, trained as a librarian and has a long history as an activist. Originally from Christchurch, she now lives in Wellington with her partner and daughters.
Title: The Rope Walk Author: Maria McMillan Category: Poetry ISBN: 978-0-473-23632-8 Format: Paperback, 210 mm (tall) x 140 mm (wide), 36 pages RRP: $20 Publication Date: July 2013
