Description
Discover 'This Mortal Boy', a captivating novel that expertly explores the tragic story of Albert Black, the 'jukebox killer'. This award-winning piece, published by RANDOM HOUSE NZ in 2018, not only clinched the prestigious 2019 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize but also garnered accolades like the NZ Booklovers Award and the NZSA Heritage Book Award for Fiction. With 304 pages of gripping narrative, this trade paperback takes you back to Auckland in 1955, where a young man's altercation spirals into an unforgettable tale of crime, societal prejudices, and the dark side of youth culture. Experience the nuances of a historical event that prompted profound moral debates about juvenile delinquency and societal reaction. What really transpired on that fateful day? Was it a crime of passion or a reflection of a society struggling with outsiders? Albert Black's final words echo a haunting contrast to his fate: 'I wish you all a merry Christmas, gentlemen, and a prosperous New Year.' Embark on this journey through a beautifully crafted narrative, and immerse yourself in a part of New Zealand's history that resonates even today. Order your BRAND NEW copy now and delve into a tale that won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. Fast delivery available!
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780143771807
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2018
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE NZ
Pages: 304
Description:
A remarkable novel that won the 2019 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize, the NZ Booklovers Award, the NZSA Heritage Book Award for Fiction and the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel.
An utterly compelling, award-winning recreation of the events that led to one of the last executions in New Zealand.
Albert Black, known as the 'jukebox killer', was only twenty when he was convicted of murdering another young man in a fight at a milk bar in Auckland on 26 July 1955. His crime fuelled growing moral panic about teenagers, and he was to hang less than five months later, the second-to-last person to be executed in New Zealand.
But what really happened? Was this a love crime, was it a sign of juvenile delinquency? Or was this dark episode in our recent history more about our society's reaction to outsiders?
Black's final words, as the hangman covered his head, were, 'I wish you all a merry Christmas, gentlemen, and a prosperous New Year.' This is his story.
'A beautiful writer' - The Times
Winner of the 2019 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize, the NZ Booklovers Award and the NZSA Heritage Book Award for Fiction.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780143771807
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2018
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE NZ
Pages: 304
Description:
A remarkable novel that won the 2019 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize, the NZ Booklovers Award, the NZSA Heritage Book Award for Fiction and the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel.
An utterly compelling, award-winning recreation of the events that led to one of the last executions in New Zealand.
Albert Black, known as the 'jukebox killer', was only twenty when he was convicted of murdering another young man in a fight at a milk bar in Auckland on 26 July 1955. His crime fuelled growing moral panic about teenagers, and he was to hang less than five months later, the second-to-last person to be executed in New Zealand.
But what really happened? Was this a love crime, was it a sign of juvenile delinquency? Or was this dark episode in our recent history more about our society's reaction to outsiders?
Black's final words, as the hangman covered his head, were, 'I wish you all a merry Christmas, gentlemen, and a prosperous New Year.' This is his story.
'A beautiful writer' - The Times
Winner of the 2019 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize, the NZ Booklovers Award and the NZSA Heritage Book Award for Fiction.