Lorigan Heteraka returns from WWI dispirited and numbed by his
service with a New Zealand Army pioneer company fighting their way
through the battlefields of France and Belgium. Had he not been so
deeply affected by his experiences in the trenches, life might have
continued as it was prior to his leaving, however this wasn't to
be. Day by day Lorigan sinks ever further into a mire of horrific
memories that are so ingrained they have no chance of being
vanquished or calmed by his wife Rawinia. Albert is born into the
circle of his Father's dysfunctional world and as he grows into a
small boy, he has difficulty coming to terms with a man so damaged
that eventually he only copes by developing a growing connection to
his Maori ancestors and their devotion to the land. The Tuhoe tribe
have long sought comfort and sustenance from their paradise and to
a large extent succeeded. Albert's presence though seems to somehow
awaken a strong spiritual reaction within them where they test his
fortitude and manhood, attempting to discover whether or not he
would be suitable as a future Kaumatua or elder. He too, like his
Father, is tested on the battlefield during WWII to a point where
he realises that war provides no answers to anything and his
service with the 10th Maori Battalion becomes a personal crusade to
assuage his struggle for logic in a world that seems to have gone
mad. During his time away, Rosina, with whom Albert has developed a
strong romantic union before departing New Zealand, endures trials
of her own in her quest to hold onto her love for him and build a
relationship with his Mother, Rawinia, as well. 'Headwaters' is a
multi-layered work which explores relationships both romantic and
family oriented and although it contains many harrowing scenes of a
military and warlike nature, so too does it carry a strong message
with its anti-war sentiments. There are many twists and turns
within the pages of this book which are sometimes complex but not
so complex they won't touch the discerning reader. Underpinning the
story and crucial to its outcome are the deeply held beliefs and
spiritual leanings of the Heteraka family, especially Albert, where
mysterious dream sequences align themselves with matters of his
past and bring them into his present. Most of the overall story,
apart from its battle scenes which are set in Greece, is situated
in New Zealand's Urewera country and its environs. The author,
David, aged sixteen at the time and with a platoon of his fellow
teenage soldiers, traversed many miles into Te Urewera National
Park for a week's training in November 1963. In the book, the
sequence of events surrounding Joshua Ponga's accident and his
ensuing rescue, (Chapter 24) actually did happen in 1963 though
some elements have been altered to fit the story. In real life
'Josh' was actually John Hohapata an army cadet who later became
also a Vietnam veteran. Sadly, although he recovered from the
serious head wound incurred in the Te Hoe stream on that day in
1963 John passed away a few years ago. Waiouru military camp,
established at the beginning of WWII, still exists to this day as
an army training area although the real 28th Maori Battalion
completed much of its preparations for war in other locations as
well.
General
Imprint: |
CreateSpace
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
November 2013 |
First published: |
November 2013 |
Authors: |
David A. Hale
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152 x 37mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
660 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4927-5172-4 |
Categories: |
Books >
Fiction >
Genre fiction >
War fiction >
General
|
LSN: |
1-4927-5172-3 |
Barcode: |
9781492751724 |
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