Book Launch: Joanne Drayton's The Queen's Wife

Join us in launching Joanne Drayton’s new book The Queen’s Wife (Penguin, 2023).

A modern love story: whakapapa, archeology, art and heartbreak. In 1989, two married women met by chance. They instantly connect, but little do they know that their new relationship will turn their lives upside-down.

MC’d by David Steemson.

Doors from 5:30, speeches start at 6pm. Free to attend, all welcome! No registration required.

The Queen’s Wife launch is coinciding with the opening of Queer Ethos – an exhibition taking place as part of Auckland Pride.

Part of Samesame but Different 2023 - a festival celebrating queer readers and writers in Aotearoa. This event is also part of the 2023 Auckland Pride Festival. See the full programme at aucklandpride.org.nz.

About The Queen's Wife:
A memoir of a turbulent time — and a chess game that broke all the rules.

In 1989, two married women met by chance. They instantly hit it off, but little did they know that their new relationship would turn their lives upside-down.

This is the true story of that relationship, which threatened to cost them their children, families and friends and forced them to reassess their sexuality, identity and heritage. Along the way, one — an acclaimed biographer — was to explore the power of objects, while the other — a painter — was to follow her whakapapa back to the first Maori king, Te Wherowhero.

Against the odds, the couple’s new life together became rich in laughter, travel, unusual encounters, investigations into Viking raids, the Kingitanga movement, the death of a New Zealand artist, chicken claws, ghosts, eccentrics and much more. A fascinating read on so many levels, this is an important view of our country from its very edge.