The Trowenna Sea

by Witi Ihimaera

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Witi Ihimaera is a novelist and short story writer from New Zealand, perhaps the best-known Māori writer today. He is internationally famous for The Whale Rider.

Ihimaera lives in New Zealand and is of Māori descent and Anglo-Saxon descent through his father, Tom. He attended Church College of New Zealand in Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand. He was the first Māori writer to publish both a novel and a book of short stories. He began to work as a diplomat at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1973, and served at various diplomatic posts in Canberra, New York, and Washington, D.C. Ihimaera remained at the Ministry until 1989, although his time there was broken by several fellowships at the University of Otago in 1975 and Victoria University of Wellington in 1982 (where he graduated with a BA).[1] In 1990, he took up a position at the University of Auckland, where he became Professor, and Distinguished Creative Fellow in Māori Literature. He retired from this position in 2010.

In 2004, his nephew Gary Christie Lewis married Lady Davina Windsor, becoming the first Māori to marry into the British Royal Family.

Reviews

[Wilma Rebstock]

Having visited New Zealand probably no less than 15 times in the past 20 years, and not being completely without some knowledge of its history and that of the Maori, I was fascinated by this book. It really is wonderful and beyond sad. I'm so glad I didn't miss out on this story.

[Margaret]

interesting read. didn't realise the controversy of this book being published until I had finished reading.

[Megan]

Really enjoyed this book thought all the different sides in the story were really well done. Gave a real sense of what it must of been like in the early years of nz colonization and Tasmania. So pleased Hohepa was returned to his whenua at the end.

[Angelique Simonsen]

God my heart just got smashed... a beautiful poignant novel that teaches us to treat everyone with aroha.

[Barbs]

I LOVE this epic novel - Witi needs to rerelease it and soon :-)

[Ian]

Great historical read - opened up NZ history

[Jean]

A commentary on the arrogant way the British colonized lands that were already occupied and expected they had the right to just walk in and take over. The story takes place in NZ, Australia (Tasmania) and what was then Rhodesia. Many of the characters were real people and the situations and events are based on well researched and accurate historical events. So although it is a novel there are many historical lessons involved. It is hard to read in places, especially with sequences of correspondence written as it would have been at the time, but well worth the effort. There are times I laughed aloud, sequences that gave me goosebumps and once or twice a tear. Very well written.

[Colmack]

Thoroughly enjoyed - a pleasant surprise as I imagined it would be a bit of a chore! The structure appealed: two histories, giving background up to the same time and place, then continuing from there as the strands intertwine, with satisfying links between characters and events.
There was some controversy after publication and the author bought all the remaining copies, and I believe it’s unavailable now. Pity.

[Sue Curtis]

Amazing story and so much history.

[Katherine Beaumont]

The only reason this didn't take as long to read as when I read Emma was because the book was borrowed and I felt under obligation to return it to it's owner... It's an interesting story but it's long winded...