The Bone People (Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Keri Hulme
- First Published: 1983
- Type of Work: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: The 1970’s
- Setting: New Zealand
- Principal Characters: Kerewin Holmes, Joseph (Joe) N. Gillayley, Simon P. Gillayley, James Piripi (Piri) Tainui
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: 1970’s, Children, Family or family life, Self-discovery, Parents and children, Colonialism, Love or romance, Race, Spiritual life or spirituality, Child abuse, Emotions, Violence, Cancer, Fathers, Islands, Heroin, Painting or painters, Disabilities or physically challenged persons, Androgyny, New Zealand or New Zealanders
- Locales: South Island, New Zealand
The Novel
Although the action of The Bone People is roughly chronological, the fact that it is related through the thoughts, memories, dreams, and associations of the three central characters results in a dual progression. Each character is moving forward through the months of association with the others; at the same time, each character is recapitulating his earlier life and reinterpreting it while he interprets the responses and the revelations of the other two.
At the beginning of the story, Kerewin Holmes, the protagonist, is defiantly alone in the...
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See Also:
See Also:
- - The Bone People summary and study guide in the eNotes.
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