The Idealist
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 89 ratings, 11 reviews)Read More
Found a better price? Request a price match
The Idealist
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?
The Idealist
New work by celebrated novelist and essayist Nicholas Jose, set against the turmoil of the independence movement in East Timor
Set in Australia, East Timor and Washington in the lead-up to the independence referendum in East Timor in 1999, The Idealist is a novel which explores the entanglement of private and public life. It is a political mystery, the portrait of a marriage, a reflection on friendship, and a study of a personality as it breaks down under pressure.
Jake, an Australian defence analyst, is torn between his support for the people of East Timor, whose commitment to independence in the face of mounting violence he has experienced personally, and his sense of responsibility for, and complicity in, the actions of his government. When he is found dead in the garage of his Washington home, after passing secret intelligence to his American counterpart, his wife Anne wants justice.
The narrative is told from changing perspectives, moving through time and memory, in search of what really happened. It is a story, above all, about the formation, necessity, and human cost of idealism.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781922725783
Publisher: Giramondo Publishing Co
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 September 2023
Country: Australia
Imprint: Giramondo Publishing Co
Illustration: Illustrations
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 148.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 300g
Pages: 320
Collections
About the Author
The Idealist is Nicholas Jose's first novel since Original Face (2005) and continues the themes of his novels Paper Nautilus (1987) and Avenue of Eternal Peace (1989), exploring Australia's place in the world in times of conflict, and the changes wrought in the lives of individuals who are impacted by them. He has published seven novels, and three collections of short stories, including Bapo (2014). His non-fiction includes Chinese Whispers: Cultural Essays and an acclaimed memoir, Black Sheep: Journey to Borroloola. He has written widely on contemporary Asian and Australian culture. He was Cultural Counsellor at the Australian Embassy Beijing from 1987-1990 and Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University. He was general editor of The Literature of Australia (Norton 2009). He is an Adjunct Professor in the Writing and Society Research Centre, Western Sydney University and Emeritus Professor of English and Creative Writing at The University of Adelaide.
Also by Nicholas Jose
View allMore from General Fiction
View allWhy 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
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
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
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.
