The Dark Dad
War and trauma — a daughter’s tale
The damage done to a family by war
Art historian Mary Kisler grew up in the early 1950s with a father who talked little, whose affection she cherished and whose anger she feared. She later came to understand the trauma that lay behind his dark moods: rejection and violence in his childhood and the brutal experience of being a prisoner of war in Italy and then Germany from late 1941 to 1945.
In this affecting memoir, she traces back through her father’s life and war record, discovering a man who had suffered but who ultimately found peace of mind among the people he loved most.
Take a look inside.
About the editor
Art historian, curator and writer Mary Kisler MNZM worked for 21 years at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, latterly as Senior Curator, Mackelvie Collection, International Art. Her previous books include Angels & Aristocrats: Early European art in New Zealand public collections (Godwit, 2010); Finding Frances Hodgkins (Massey University Press, 2019), and, with Catherine Hammond, Frances Hodgkins — European Journeys (Auckland University Press 2019).
Kisler also helped to create www.completefranceshodgkins.com.
Mark Adams
A survey | He kohinga whakaahua
Mark Adams is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s foremost photographers. His focus on Samoan tatau, Māori–Pākehā interactions in Rotorua, carved meeting houses, locations of significance for Ngāi Tahu in Te Waipounamu, and Captain James Cook’s landing sites reflect his deep engagement with our postcolonial and Pacific histories.
This first-ever comprehensive survey of his work honours one of our most distinguished — and continually compelling — photographers.
It includes photographs taken across the Pacific, the United Kingdom and Europe that explore the migration of artistic and cultural practices across the globe, and examine the role of museums, and photography itself, in this dynamic and ongoing cross-cultural exchange.
Take a look inside.
About the author
Mark Adams is one of New Zealand’s most distinguished photographers whose work is held in major institutions in New Zealand and abroad.
Dr Sarah Farrar is head of curatorial and learning at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. She is a curator and art historian whose research focuses on contemporary art, curatorial activism and the complexities of cross-cultural exchange.
Massey University Press is giving away a copy of these two books to the alumni whānau. To go into the draw, please email us your name, address, and the book title you’re interested in by Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 11.59pm. This offer is limited to readers of our newsletter with New Zealand addresses. A condition of entry is we will publish the winners’ names on our social media pages and/or in our next newsletter.
You can check out the Press’ other terrific books at https://www.masseypress.ac.nz/.
Congratulations to Tiana Jade and Ian Rankin – the lucky winners of our February newsletter book giveaway! Thank you to everyone who entered. Keep an eye on future newsletters for more exciting chances to win!
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