Sydney, 1988. While Australia celebrates its Bicentenary, Jack Rudd finds little worth celebrating.

Haunted by the past and uncertain of the present, he moves between two emotional centres of gravity: Bridget, an Aboriginal activist whose political commitments challenge his understanding of the country around him, and Benny, a close friend lying unconscious in a Sydney hospital. As Jack struggles to make sense of both relationships, questions of history, responsibility, memory and belonging become impossible to avoid.

Set against the cultural and political tensions surrounding the Bicentenary, Wintering uses one man's personal crisis to explore larger national questions. Kelleher examines the gap between official celebrations and unresolved histories, weaving together friendship, grief, desire and political awakening into a novel deeply concerned with the stories Australia tells about itself. The result is both an intimate character study and a thoughtful engagement with a pivotal moment in contemporary Australian history.

First edition paperback, UQP. Good condition with light shelf wear and age toning consistent with age.