{"title":"Roberta Sykes","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"snake-cradle-book-roberta-sykes-9781864485134","title":"Snake Cradle","description":"'Once, in winter, after I had scrambled up the hill beside the cathedral, a snake and I were both enjoying basking in the warmth of the sun's mid-morning rays, when we spotted each other. It was a powerful moment. We fell into complete stillness, each looking at the other's eyes and watching to see whether the other meant any harm. At the end of our mutual appraisal, I knew the snake was not a danger to me and continued to lay on the rock without fear. Although other smaller snakes, to Mum's mortification, sometimes slipped in and out of the retaining walls beside our house, this cathedral snake became my first real encounter.'Snake Cradle is the first volume of Roberta Sykes's three volume autobiography, Snake Dreaming.  Snake Cradle chronicles the early years of one of Australia's best known activists for Aboriginal rights, from the time of her birth in Townsville in the 1940s through to the birth of her son when she was 17, and the trial of the men who raped her.Roberta's voice is strong and true as she describes far north Queensland of the time, her battles with a series of childhood illnesses, and her growing awareness that hers was not an ordinary Australian childhood. Born to a white mother and a father whose identity she did not know, her passion and commitment to the struggles of the Aboriginal people was shaped by the racism her dark skin invoked. A powerful and moving autobiography about a history that must never be forgotten.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49542155763985,"sku":"GOR003485383","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49641709240593,"sku":"GOR003325814","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50115384017169,"sku":"CIN1864485132G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50452972798225,"sku":"GOR013957581","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50515129106705,"sku":"GOR003417764","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51418028704017,"sku":"CIN1864485132VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1864485132.jpg?v=1758967019"},{"product_id":"snake-dreaming-book-roberta-sykes-9781865086279","title":"Snake Dreaming","description":"Roberta Sykes's three-volume autobiography is a moving, personal story that begins as a tale of brutalization and ends a triumph of success. The books are collected here in one volume. One of Australia's best known activists for Aboriginal rights, Roberta's early life is covered in \"Snake Cradle\", the first volume, which follows her from her birth in Townsville in the 1940s, through to the birth of her son, when she is 17. It ends with the trial of the men who raped her. With a voice that is strong and true Roberta describes her growing awareness that hers was not an ordinary Australian childhood. Born to a white mother, and a father whose identity she did not know, her passion and commitment to the struggles of the Aboriginal people was shaped by the racism her dark skin invoked. \"Snake Dancing\" volume two, chronicles Roberta's increasing politicization and involvement in the black movement as she gradually moves into the national spotlight as a writer and First Secretary of the Aboriginal Embassy set up in a tent on the lawns of Parliament House. Bringing a human perspective to events that were often headline news around the world, Roberta draws the trilogy to a close with \"Snake Circle\". In it, we accompany her to Harvard University in a vivid recounting of Sykes' experience as the first Australian black to graduate with a doctorate. It also passionately tells of her relationships with those she loves, such as MumShirl and her children.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49549241843985,"sku":"GOR003678444","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1865086274.jpg?v=1751028171"},{"product_id":"snake-dancing-book-roberta-sykes-9781864488371","title":"Snake Dancing","description":"Snake Dancing is the second volume of Roberta Sykes' three volume autobiography, Snake Dreaming. It chronicles Roberta's increasing politicisation and involvement in the Black movement to the time of her invitation from Harvard to take up postgraduate study in the United States.Struggling to overcome the effects of her ordeals in Snake Cradle, Roberta Sykes gradually moves into the national spotlight as a writer and as First Secretary of the Aboriginal Embassy set up in a tent on the lawns of Parliament House. She details the dangerous, demanding and sometimes lonely life of an itinerant activist, and brings a human perspective to events that were often headline news around the world.Snake Dancing is essential reading for those wishing to understand the complex nature of interaction between the races in Australia's recent history. The first volume of her autobiography, Snake Cradle, won the 1997 Age Book of the Year and the 1998 Nitta Kibble awards, and those who were moved by it will continue to be engrossed by Roberta Sykes' remarkable life.'Roberta. that you not only survived but triumphed is an incredible tribute to you and the human spirit.' - David Suzuki'Sykes explores the depth of the personal veneer surrounding every Australian who is, like it or not, part of the hidden history of black and white contact in this country. Secrets taken to the grave choke up every cemetery in Australia. A genuine national pride must also accept and accommodate the shame. Sykes' intricate and courageously honest story of her life may help us understand why this needs to be so.' - Alexis Wright, Australian Book Review'Reading Roberta Sykes is to be engaged by a great tale and by and uncompromisingly fine writer.' - Janine Burke, The Age","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49560026513681,"sku":"GOR001513077","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1864488379.jpg?v=1759229834"},{"product_id":"snake-circle-book-roberta-sykes-9781865083353","title":"Snake Circle","description":"Snake Circle draws the remarkable Snake Dreaming trilogy to a close as we accompany Sykes on the final stage of her journey - this time to Harvard University. It is a vivid recounting of Sykes' experience as the first Australian Black to graduate with a doctorate, and of her growing confidence as she thrives in the new environment of Harvard. It also passionately tells of her relationships with those she loves, such as MumShirl and her children, and the ongoing run-ins she has with the bureaucracy and politicians along the way. A moving and exuberant conclusion to a story that began as a tale of brutalisation.WHAT THE CRITICS SAID ABOUT SNAKE CRADLE AND SNAKE DANCING:'Snake Cradle and Snake Dancing are enough to suggest that Sykes' three-volume memoir may well become an Australian classic.' - Sun-Herald'Once begun, readers should be made aware that Snake Dancing is the kind of book which tugs at you to read it quickly. Once read, it is sure to stay long with us.' - Canberra Times'It is a testament to the writing as much as to her life that the reader becomes so immersed in the story of Roberta Sykes. It is a story every Australian should read.' - Anne Summers, The Age'Roberta. that you not only survived but triumphed is an incredible tribute to you and the human spirit. ' - David Suzuki'Reading Roberta Sykes is to be engaged by a great tale and by an uncompromisingly fine writer.' - Janine Burke, The Age","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49580708659473,"sku":"GOR002237762","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1865083356.jpg?v=1758968588"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-roberta-sykes.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}