An utterly compelling recreation of the events that led to one of the last executions in New Zealand.

Albert Black, known as the 'jukebox killer', was only twenty when he was convicted of murdering another young man in a fight at a milk bar in Auckland on 26 July 1955. His crime fuelled growing moral panic about teenagers, and he was to hang less than five months later, the second-to-last person to be executed in New Zealand.

But what really happened? Was this a love crime, was it a sign of juvenile delinquency? Or was this dark episode in our recent history more about our society's reaction to outsiders?

Black's final words, as the hangman covered his head, were, 'I wish you all a merry Christmas, gentlemen, and a prosperous New Year.' This is his story. 

Author

Fiona Kidman

Fiona Kidman is a leading contemporary novelist, short story writer and poet. Much of her fiction is focused on how outsiders navigate their way in narrowly conformist society. She has published a large and exciting range of fiction and poetry, and has worked as a librarian, producer and critic. Kidman has won numerous awards, and she has been the recipient of fellowships, grants and other significant honours, as well as being a consistent advocate for New Zealand writers and literature. She is the President of Honour for the New Zealand Book Council, and has been awarded an OBE and a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to literature. 

Country of Origin

Books:

Series:

Review This Mortal Boy, Dame Fiona Kidman
Karen Chisholm
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Blog 2019 Ngaio Marsh Awards Longlist
Karen Chisholm
Thursday, June 13, 2019
ISBN
9780143771807
Year of Publication
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Review This Mortal Boy, Dame Fiona Kidman
Karen Chisholm
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Blog 2019 Ngaio Marsh Awards Longlist
Karen Chisholm
Thursday, June 13, 2019

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