‘Denniston Rose’ by Jenny Pattrick
A snapshot of West Coast New Zealand history is woven into the page of Denniston Rose. Meticulous, generous historical narrative has always been the signature style of renowned author Jenny Pattrick and Denniston Rose is where her writing fame began in 2003. Denniston Rose has well earned their place amongst the new Popular Penguin range featuring favoured New Zealand titles. Our own classics are formed when they stand the test of time and are loved by the multitudes. Jenny Pattrick has cornered the historical fiction market and all her ten (adult) books have been firm favourites over twenty years.
The Denniston Incline, an engineering masterpiece, deemed the eighth wonder of the modern world for the eighteen hundred feet in near-vertical drops opened in 1879 and is the setting for Denniston Rose. We are introduced to the character of Rose - Rose of Tralee, and she is the endearing common thread woven through the cast of characters in amongst the Rochefort Plateau mining community perched high above the coastal flats near Westport. We meet the Hanrattys, Scobies, Rasmussens along with former gold-diggers turned hewers of coal versus the unionized English colliers, Denniston Rose is a perfectly formed New Zealand classic.
Like an anvil, Denniston hammers its inhabitants, beaten to new shapes…beaten ‘til their spirit grows thin.
“Damn Denniston
Damn the track
Damn the way both there and back
Damn the wind and damn the weather
God damn Denniston altogether”
This memorable read is also now available on LibroFM - the audio book platform that supports local bookstores – and is superbly brought to life by the voice of Jennifer Ward-Lealand.
The paperback is available in store or online in a brand new addition to the Penguin NZ Popular Penguins range.
