Description:
The deeply personal story of Aboriginal woman Jessie Argyle and her husband, Englishman Edward Smith, and how their home became a centre for Aboriginal culture and social life in a time when their love was not accepted by society.
Brief description: Stephen Kinnane is a Marda Marda from Mirriwoong country in the East Kimberley. He has been an active writer and researcher for more than 25 years as well as lecturing and working on sustainability, politics and history with a focus on regional and local community resilience, belonging and connections with place. His interests are diverse, encompassing Aboriginal history, creative documentary (both visual and literary), regional sustainability and resource scarcity. Kinnane co-wrote and produced The Coolbaroo Club (1996), an ABC TV documentary awarded the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Human Rights Award for the Arts, and collaborated with Lauren Marsh and Alice Nannup on When the Pelican Laughed (1992), the story of Mrs Alice Nannup (Fremantle Press).
Review Quotes:
'... strongly recommended [four out of five stars]' Australian Bookseller+Publisher
'... a profound read.' Western Suburbs Weekly
'... a tale of self-discovery, beautifully told ... a considerable accomplishment ...' West Australian
'Kinnane's meticulous research and a talent at reading between the lines of the official records are evident from the first chapter.' Aboriginal History
'... little short of a masterpiece.' Sydney Morning Herald
'... a stunning work, straddling the genres of lay and academic history.' Studies in Western Australian History
'Richly characterised and lyrically drawn, Shadow Lines is one of the great works of Western Australian literature.' Writing WA
'It is almost 20 years since this classic award-winning Indigenous memoir was first published in 2003, and it has lost none of its punch.' Good Reading
'This is a book that should be on high school and tertiary curricula. Its subject matter is as timeless as its emotional strength is powerful.' Fremantle Shipping News
AIATSIS Stanner Award (Winner 2006)
Queensland Premier's Literary Awards (Shortlisted 2004)
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards (Winner 2003)
Fellowship of Australian Writers Melbourne University Publishing Award, Non-fiction (Winner 2003)
Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature (Shortlisted)