Tamara Dragadze

Dr Tamara Dragadze B.A. Soc Anthr(Kent)Dr Philosophy(Oxon) is an accomplished scholar and social critic of some reknown with over 50 academic publications to her name.

--- Whyte Tracks

"What makes people become mass killers? Look at what's happening around us today. Rwandans are no different to me or you, and yet some of them suddenly turned into killers, grandmothers killing grandmothers, neighbours killing their neighbours' children--and we don't know how they turned, not really.

In this novel, I maintain distance out of respect for the dead, so horrors are presented in flashbacks. A former UN officer, himself of African heritage, drives across the Canadian Prairies and recalls the burning hills of Rwanda during the killings: He sees visions and ghosts of perpetrators and of victims who demand to be heard.

As a writer:

Fiction gives me the freedom to explore where I could not as an anthropologist. I am writing a set of three novels about parallel journeys; I am fascinated by the juxtaposition of places people can live in--physically in one place and mentally in another country.

I wrote this novel for its own sake, not to put out a message, but if it helps people reflect or learn new facts, I am not going to be sorry.

Personally my passions are:

I am passionate about understanding the inner logic of other cultures

I also am passionate about battling against 'culture' being used as an excuse to oppress women and turn a blind eye.

I am passionate about fighting stereotypes and hope that shows in my novels.

I am passionate about classical ballet and still do a class every week.

I am passionate about young people, (especially my own children and grandchildren).

Professionally:

I am an anthropologist and taught at several British universities and published profusely in my field. For literature, I was granted three residencies at Yaddo, the artists' retreat in the USA and once at Blue Mountain Centre in upstate New York."

--- Tamara Dragadze