Juno & Hannah

Overview

In 1920, deep in the New Zealand bush, a settlement of Christian fundamentalists lives a life of austerity and isolation. It is an existence that leaves little room for compassion, particularly for the women, who are viewed with suspicioun on account of “Eve’s original sin.” The elders lord over women, children, and young men alike, meting out punishments for transgressions as innocuous as self-reflection. Sisters Juno and Hannah have grown up in the community, but when a stranger washes up on the river bank and Hannah goes to his aid, she finds herself accused of necromancy. The girls flee but are quickly forced to accept help. Unsure of who is friend and who foe, Hannah finds herself dependent upon, and attracted to, the man she brought back to life. The sisters’ breathless journey reflects the vividly portrayed New Zealand landscape with its abundance of beauty and resources, but also with scars wrought during the early days of colonization.

Reviews

"At once a page turning read, full of twists and surprises, and at the same time a painful account of women's journey through the hinterland of history. Beryl Fletcher has painted a stunningly accurate picture of wild territory, pain, separation, revival, and regeneration in spite of dreadful odds."  —Fiona Kidman, author, Beside the Dark Pool and The Captive Wife 

"Has all the ingredients of love, quest, humor, and endurance played out against a background of rural 1920s life, eugenics, and cult religion. Simply told, fast paced, Beryl Fletcher's new novella abounds with vivid evocations of the natural world and some unforgettable female characters."  —Stephanie Johnson author, The Open World and The Writing Class

Author Biography

Beryl Fletcher is the author of several short stories, four novels, and the memoir The House at Karamu. Her first novel, The Word Burners, was awarded a regional Commonwealth Writers Prize for best first book in 1992. She is a former writer-in-residence at the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program.