- Culture
- 22 Apr 01
A powerful tale of love, lust and life with the Taureg nomads of Nigeria, Gaye Shortland’s new novel, Polygamy is based in large part on her own extraordinary experiences of an alien culture. Interview: Siobhan Long.
Mark Twain reckoned that on our deathbeds, we’d only regret the things we never did – not the things we did. If there’s even a ounce of truth in that little nugget of wisdom then Gaye Shortland is unlikely to be writhing in agony when she shuffles off this mortal coil. In fact, she’ll probably exit stage left thrashing and screaming to a soundtrack that’s a cross between Michael Jackson and Iggy Pop.
Because Gaye Shortland is the ultimate architect of her own destiny.
Not one for lounging around awaiting the next opportunity, she positively thrives on quests of her own making, paths of her own creation. Gaye Shortland’s one of the few people who honour that bedraggled cliché that life is a journey, not a destination.