On February 1, 1960, Harry Scott, conscientous objector, psychologist and mountaineer, was killed while climbing Mt. Cook. Thirty-five years later, his son set out to look for him.Funny, moving, and beautifully written, this is the story of a father's absence, told partly through the recovery of his extraordinary life. A rich and exciting mix of biography, autobiography, and intellectual and social history, HARRY'S ABSENCE is a passionately argued book about New Zealand, addressing the distinction between nationalism and love of country. Finally, it is a recovery, from death, of reasons for living.
JONATHAN SCOTT is a Fellow and Director of Studies in History at Downing College, Cambridge. He was born in Auckland in 1958 and grew up in Wellington. As well as his numerous articles and two books on historical themes, Scott has also had poetry published in several literary journals.
Hardcover Edition