This is a difficult piece to write. It cuts closer to the bone than most of what I have written; closer to my bones, through my blood and flesh to the bones of truth and country; there is truth here, not disguised but in the open and that truth hurts.
In Lies, Damned Lies acclaimed author Claire G. Coleman, a proud Noongar woman, takes the reader on a journey through the past, present and future of Australia, lensed through her own experience. Beautifully written, this literary work blends the personal with the political, offering readers an insight into the stark reality of the ongoing trauma of Australia's violent colonisation. Colonisation in Australia is not over. Colonisation is a process, not an event - and the after-effects will continue while there are still people to remember it.
'With words as weapons, Coleman's mission to slay generations of lies, propaganda and rhetoric to reveal the truth is personal.' - Kill Your Darlings
'her abilities as a poet are especially evident in the rhythms and striking imagery of her first non-fiction book.' - The West Australian
'Coleman tears through many self-serving myths and lays them bare. The writing is personal and beautiful, the message angry and urgent.' -- Michael Williams - Qantas Magazine
'a vital text that is both unflinching and full of hope.' - The Big Issue
'Coleman uses the framework of her own experiences to deconstruct the myth of Great Australia and map out the devastating and long-lasting effects of colonisation today.' - Marie Claire
Author
About Claire G. Coleman
Claire G. Coleman is a Noongar woman whose family have belonged to the south coast of Western Australia since long before history started being recorded. She writes fiction, essays, poetry and art writing while either living in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia) or on the road. During an extended circuit of the continent she wrote a novel, Terra Nullius, which won the black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship and was listed for 8 awards including a shortlisting for The Stella Prize.
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