{"title":"Quenton Baker","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the powerful and evocative works of Quenton Baker, a compelling voice in contemporary literature. Baker’s writing delves deep into challenging themes and offers a poignant lens on history and its enduring impact. His work is characterised by a profound engagement with the complexities of the past, inviting readers to reflect, question, and understand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of Baker’s acclaimed works, \u003cem\u003eballast\u003c\/em\u003e, illustrates his skill in tackling the themes of History \u0026amp; Military with sensitivity and insight. This book is a poignant exploration of the Black experience, unearthing narratives that have often been overlooked or obscured. Through his meticulously crafted verses, Baker brings history to life, making it resonate powerfully with today's audiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor readers interested in literature that challenges the status quo and offers a raw look at historical narratives, Quenton Baker’s collection is an essential addition to your reading list. His works will not only educate but also inspire and provoke thoughtful conversation about history and its lasting imprints on present and future generations.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ballast-by-quenton-baker-9781642599480","title":"ballast","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA poetic sequence using the 1841 slave revolt aboard the brig \u003ci\u003eCreole\u003c\/i\u003e as a lens through which to view the vitality of Black lives and the afterlife of slavery.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1841, the only successful, large-scale revolt of American-born enslaved people erupted on the ship \u003ci\u003eCreole\u003c\/i\u003e. 135 people escaped chattel slavery that day. The event was recounted in US Senate documents, including letters exchanged between US and British consulates in The Bahamas and depositions from the white crew on the ship. There is no known record or testimony from the 135 people who escaped. Their story has been lost to time and indifference. Quenton Baker's \u003ci\u003eballast\u003c\/i\u003e is an attempt at incomplete redress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith imagination, deep empathy, and skilled and compelling lyricism, Baker took a black marker to those Senate documents and culled a poetic recount of the \u003ci\u003eCreole\u003c\/i\u003e revolt. Layers of ink connect readers to Baker's poetic process: (re)phrasing the narrative of the state through a dexterous process of hands-on redactions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eballast\u003c\/i\u003e is a relentless, wrenching, and gorgeously written book, a defiant reclamation of one of the most important but overlooked events in US history, and an essential contribution to contemporary poetry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848493256940,"sku":"9781642599480","price":105.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/22984923482772.jpg?v=1758982660"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/quenton-baker.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}