200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ 

Black Friday Sale on Now! Save up to 25% off Books, Toys, Board Games, & Puzzles! ✨

The Argument

By Tracy Ryan
0.0 (0 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Argument by Tracy Ryan explores themes of mortality and survival through a series of incisive poems. The collection navigates the unknowable aspects of life, presenting a cohesive vision where each poem reveals the poet's thoughtful engagement with death, ultimately responding energetically with life.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3000
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers of contemporary poetry interested in themes of mortality, philosophy, and lyricism within the arts and culture genre.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The unknowable is Tracy Ryan's terrain; these are poems of keen appraisal and survival demonstrating an extraordinary range and held tight by a cohesive vision. Each poem makes clear the poet's preoccupation with mortality. If the argument is with death - that cold cross-examiner - these are poems which respond with life.

The Argument is the sixth volume of poetry from award-winning author Tracy Ryan.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Argument is Tracy Ryan's terrain; these are poems of keen appraisal and survival, demonstrating an extraordinary range and held tight by a cohesive vision. Each poem makes clear the poet's preoccupation with mortality. If the argument is with death - that cold cross-examiner - these are poems which respond with life.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Ryan's work for its profound exploration of the self within a post-God worldview, highlighting a dynamic pattern of "giving and receiving" in human, natural, and impersonal realms. Dennis Haskell notes the collection as a rich discussion on existence, while Alison Croggon commends the supple and deeply moving lyricism, showcasing superb technique and authentic passion.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781921361807

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 June 2011

Country: Australia

Imprint: Fremantle Press

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 5.0mm

Width: 146.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 115g

Pages: 88

Collections

Arts & Culture Non-Fiction Penguin Books Poetry Tracy Ryan

About the Author

Authors Bio, not available

Also by Tracy Ryan

View all
  • The War Within Me
    If I held my whole kingdom in one hand and my son in the other, I would toss them both to the bottom of the sea before I would let them impede me. Sixteenth-century Princess Jeanne d'Albret is twice royal: her uncle is King of France, her father King of Navarre. She is small, she is often ill, yet she...
    By Tracy Ryan
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Fremantle Press Anthology of Western Australian Poetry
    The Fremantle Press Anthology of Western Australian Poetry is a comprehensive survey of the state's poets from the 19th century to today. Featuring work from 134 poets, and including the work of many WA Indigenous poets, this watershed anthology brings together the poems that have contributed to and defined the ways that Western Australians see themselves.
    By Tracy Ryan and John Kinsella
    Paperback
    $4000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Queen's Apprenticeship
    Two women from different worlds in Renaissance France cross paths in a way that changes both their lives. One is Marguerite de Navarre, a King's sister. Powerful, privileged, and widely admired, Marguerite must nonetheless marry where she is told to, regardless of her feelings. Despite the thrilling new ideas of religious reform causing upheaval in France, she must toe the...
    By Tracy Ryan
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Scar Revision
    Scar Revision - surgically minimising the effects of scars - is the powerful central image of Tracy Ryan's highly accomplished new collection. Both formally adventurous and movingly personal, these poems offer vivid accounts of how we survive and 'rewrite' literal and symbolic scars, and of regeneration through the risks of family.
    By Tracy Ryan
    Paperback
    $2900
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Water Bearer
    Tracy Ryan's latest collection of poems is full of intimate intensity and clear vision, each poem wrought with consummate skill by one of Australia's most gifted poets (Marion May Campbell). Water is contained in these poems in many different ways - from the water filling a second-hand cooler in an old farmhouse to ocean riptides and impassive dams; from swimming...
    By Tracy Ryan
    Paperback
    $3700
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Rose Interior
    The poems in Rose Interior move between the inside and outside of everything they touch, from the domestic scene, both cosy and claustrophobic, to the social and ecological settings we must all answer for. Poems from Ireland, Switzerland, and Australia consider life at home in the personal sense: through the body, childhood memories, and family houses, "a room within a...
    By Tracy Ryan
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Browse lists from our team

The Latest at Book Hero

View all

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    By Jane Ussher
    Hardback
    $6399
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    22% off
    New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator ofΒ Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and AccentΒ Aigu, comesΒ I’llΒ Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series,Β Heated RivalryΒ premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 andΒ immediatelyΒ took the world by storm.Β I’ll...
    By Jacob Tierney
    Hardback
    $4300
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    20% off
    The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    12% off
    New Release
    Shirl's Pick Shirl's Pick
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoirΒ Home Again.This is more than a rock story.Β Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it.Β From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    By Jon Toogood
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    24% off
    The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017β€”revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)β€”critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    On Sale
    22% off
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    By Monique Fiso
    Hardback
    $3500
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    By Freddie Mercury
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Artist's Way
    The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...
    By Julia Cameron
    Paperback
    $3700
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    25% off
    This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    By Layne Staley
    Hardback
    $5500
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    24% off
    Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    By Jessica Urlichs
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    25% off
    The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER β€œIt’s undeniably thrilling to find words for our strangest feelings…Koenig casts light into lonely corners of human experience…An enchanting book.” β€”The Washington Post A truly original book in every sense of the word, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows poetically defines emotions that we all feel but don’t have the words to expressβ€”until now. Have you ever...
    By John Koenig
    Hardback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $4699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Birdlands Birdlands
    New Release
    Birdlands
    A rare, intimate journey into the wild islands where Aotearoa's birds live beyond the reach of most human lives. In the most remote outposts of Aotearoa, our islands are populated not with people, but with birds. From the storm-lashed Subantarctic Islands in the deep south to the scattered volcanic islands of Tikapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf in the north, Birdlands offers a...
    By Edin Whitehead
    Hardback
    $4199
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 200,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.