{"product_id":"downfall-ebook","title":"Downfall Ebook","description":"\u003ch1 class=\"strapline\"\u003eAn important new history considered through a queer lens\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strapline\"\u003eShortlisted for 2023 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1920 New Zealanders were shocked by the news that the brilliant, well-connected mayor of Whanganui had shot a young gay poet, D'Arcy Cresswell, who was blackmailing him. They were then riveted by the trial that followed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMackay was sentenced to hard labour and later left the country, only to be shot by a police sniper during street unrest in Berlin during the rise of the Nazis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMackay had married into Whanganui high society, and the story has long been the town’s dark secret. The outcome of years of digging by historian Paul Diamond,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDownfall: The destruction of Charles Mackay\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eshines a clear light on the vengeful impulses behind the blackmail and Mackay’s ruination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cast of this tale includes the Prince of Wales, the president of the RSA, Sir Robert Stout, Blanche Baughan . . . even Lady Ottoline Morrell. But it is much more than an extraordinary story of scandal. At its heart, the Mackay affair reveals the perilous existence of homosexual men at that time and how society conspired to control and punish them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo look inside, click\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Issuu\" href=\"https:\/\/issuu.com\/masseypress\/docs\/downfall_look_inside\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strapline\"\u003e‘A crucial New Zealand story’ — David Herkt,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Kete Books\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ketebooks.co.nz\/all-book-reviews\/downfall-the-destruction-of-charles-mackay\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eKete\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBooks\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strapline\"\u003e‘Meticulously researched and beautifully written’ — Catie Gilchrist,\u003cspan\u003e \u003cem\u003eAustralian Historical Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strapline\"\u003e‘Scandalous, gossipy and . . . historically revealing’ — Jenny Nicholls,\u003cem\u003e Waiheke Weekender\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strapline\"\u003e‘\u003cem\u003eDownfall\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eremains a crucial resource for any future examination of . . . the evolution of New Zealand social and sexual attitudes. Diamond’s work is original and essential . . . It is a book of international importance.’ — David Herkt,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Landfall Review\" href=\"https:\/\/landfallreview.com\/chasing-ghosts\/#more-5762\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLandfall Review Online\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Massey Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67705470517568,"sku":"DFE","price":16.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0944\/6614\/6624\/files\/9781991016188.jpg?v=1769135432","url":"https:\/\/masseypress.ac.nz\/products\/downfall-ebook","provider":"Massey Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}