Stephanie Johnson

John Tomb's Head
ISBN: 1869418263
EAN/ISBN-9781869418267
Imprint: Random House NZ Vintage
Release: 04-08-2006

John Tomb saw more of the world than most Englishmen of the early nineteenth century. From England to Australia to New Zealand, he led a life of adventure and romance. Two hundred years after his death, his tattooed head is discovered in an American museum. His spirit reawakened, John Tomb wryly observes those who would lay claim to his relic. Among others, there's the New Zealand delegation headed by the Prime Minister and including Tomb's Maori

descendants, a leading historian, a prominent carver, the Diplomatic Protection Squad and the Prime Minister's fifteen-year-old daughter. From England come Tomb's English descendants and supporters, eager to take the head back to the land of his birth and their family museum. There is also a wealthy private collector and his clever wife. Returning to the biting and hilarious satire of contemporary New Zealand that Stephanie Johnson conveyed so well in the prize-winning The Shag Incident, this is a daring, astute and rollicking novel from one of our foremost writers.

Reviews of John Tomb’s Head

… this is a showcase for Johnson’s superbly waspish style which keeps both reader and – who knows? – even the subjects satirically baited (many are household names) – on their toes as well. Despite some flaws, this is probably our finest satiric work to date and will stir controversy over the heated topics it so bravely engages – which is all to the good.
(Michael Morrissey, Investigate magazine, October 31, 2006)

The longer I’ve lived in this country, the more I’ve come to the conclusion that New Zealanders are as eccentric (perhaps even more so) as the English… chasing a head from pillar to post, and a scenario that involves betrayal, rape, child abuse, kidnapping, murder, payback, love discovered and love lost will keep readers guessing to the last page. Some might say, just another day at the office for some New Zealanders.
(Ian Williams, Otago Daily Times, September 9, 2006)

John Tomb’s Head is a thought-provoking work, continually surprising, with many brilliant moments. The modern world, we gradually come to appreciate, is just as violent and unscrupulous as John Tomb’s in the early 1800’s.
(Iain Sharp, Sunday Star Times, August 20, 2006)

Click here to watch a video of Stephanie's interview on TVNZ's "Morning" programme.

Or, click here to read a transcript of the launch speech by Witi Ihimaera.