Starting again : a time in the life of William Yang (signed presentation copy for Bill Henson, with manuscript letter)

Melbourne : Heinemann, 1989. Oblong quarto, illustrated gatefold wrappers (spine sunned), pp. 122, toning to preliminaries, illustrated. Presentation inscription ‘To Bill Henson. I will always remember the wonderful lunch in the cafe in Dimbulah when we visited in 1992 when my mother was alive. With sincere good wishes William Yang’. Accompanied by a one page signed manuscript letter from Yang to Henson, further reflecting on the passing of his mother, with personal comments on his and Henson’s family, and thanks for the sympathies.

“In this, his second book, William Yang takes us into his personal orbit, showing us pictures of the people and places that have marked new beginnings in his life. He is ‘adopted’ by his Chinese teacher, lulled by Sydney’s shoreline, mesmerised by old family portraits and driven from his home by a merciless inferno. Through his images the reader not only observes, but also participates in, the contrasts and surprises of birth, life, and death’ – the back cover.

A significant presentation copy.