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At The Foot Of The Cherry Tree

Alli Parker

$32.99

Paperback

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English
HARPER360
01 August 2023
A stirring story of love and hope, based on the incredible true story of Australia's first Japanese war bride and a love that changed a nation forever.

SHORTLISTED FOR 2023 DYMOCKS BOOK OF THE YEAR AND THE 2024 ABIA MATT RICHELL AWARD FOR NEW WRITERS

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 INDIE BOOK AWARDS

Gordon Parker is an eager eighteen-year-old Australian boy desperate to fight for his country, and Nobuko 'Cherry' Sakuramoto is a sixteen-year-old girl struggling to survive in Japan in the aftermath of World War II. But when they fall in love, they change the course of history.

When Gordon arrives in Japan, he expects ruthless samurai, angry Japanese men ready to kill Australians at every corner. Instead, he finds Cherry, terrified of ex-enemy soldiers, a survivor of the atomic bomb. Against all the rules and all the odds, they fall in love. But when Gordon discovers the White Australia Policy prevents Cherry coming home with him as his war bride, he does what any 20-year-old soldier would do. He vows to fight. Leaving Cherry alone and pregnant in post-war Japan, Gordon has to convince his family to accept his marriage and wage a desperate campaign against a xenophobic and war-scarred government to allow his wife and children to come home.

A sweeping story spanning seven years and two countries reeling from the aftermath of war, At the Foot of the Cherry Tree is a powerfully moving novel about faith, trust, and the power of a love that alters history - written by Gordon and Cherry's granddaughter, accomplished scriptwriter, Alli Parker.

'A stunning story of faith, hope and love ... Parker's debut into historical fiction is beautiful in every sense.' The Australian

'An impressive debut novel ... a standout ... beautifully done. At the Foot of the Cherry Tree delivers both educational value and emotional impact. The connection to real-life individuals adds a wonderful dimension to the novel, reminding readers of the genuine struggles faced by these brave and resilient Australians.' Books+Publishing

'Based on a true story. Screenwriter [Alli] Parker, granddaughter of Australia's first Japanese war bride, has the family resilience and a sweeping writing style to take on one of the most devastating wartime atrocities in history ... A gentle love story expands into an epic novelisation.' Australian Women's Weekly

By:  
Imprint:   HARPER360
Country of Publication:   Australia
Dimensions:   Height: 235mm,  Width: 155mm,  Spine: 27mm
Weight:   406g
ISBN:   9781460763520
ISBN 10:   1460763521
Pages:   320
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Alli Parker is an Australian screenwriter of Japanese heritage who has co-written episodes of Jack Irish, Secret Bridesmaids' Business, and Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. In late 2018, she made the Top Ten for the Scripted Ink, Screentime and Channel 9 Drama Hothouse Opportunity 2018 and her two TV series, Hart and Empty Nesters, were accepted into the AWG Pathways Program. Her feature script Strain, a finalist in the Open Channel and Australian Writers' Guild New Writers' Competition 2016 (Feature Film Category) and was subsequently accepted into the AWG Pathways Program. Her work as a script editor and coordinator includes Irreverent, Shantaram, Secret Bridesmaids' Business, Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries, Jack Irish S1 & 2, Sunshine, and Please Like Me S4.

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