This week, Clare speaks with Nathan Jackson about Christine Piper's award-winning novel, 'After Darkness'. The discussion focuses on the trauma experienced by the protagonist, Tomokazu Ibaraki, and how Piper utilises the fractured narrative structure to represent the impact one's past can have on their memories, and their lives. While Ibaraki undoubtedly achieves some redemption in the denouement of the novel, overall, he is not a typical hero, nor a likeable narrator. Listening to this discussion will provide students with an examination of text structure and characterisation, as well as a means to balance the historical elements of the novel with the fictional components. Overall, Piper's novel conveys the message that ingrained power structures and hierarchies can be damaging and also provides insight into a historical period that many in Australia might choose to ignore. 

Nathan kindly shared some resources that may be helpful in teaching or studying these texts, found below:

• An interview with Christine Piper
• Chapter Summary by Nathan Jackson
• 'At War With His Emotions' - review by Geordie Williamson

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