John Watt was born in 1936 and grew up in Perth. He was educated in Catholic schools, culminating in two and a half years in the local seminary before leaving to study Arts at the University of Western Australia. After a few years teaching in high schools he returned to complete a PhD in philosophy at the Australian National University, after which he taught at Monash and Murdoch Universities. He now lives south of Perth in Busselton, with his wife, Lesley, where he pursues his interests in writing and making music.
ENDORSEMENTS
John Watt's Crooked Vows is not only a compulsive read, it is also
an evocative, almost poetic survival story conjuring up the beauty,
power and destructiveness of the West Australian bush, coast and
the ocean. It is also a story of self-discovery. It vividly
captures the struggles of a young man in the 1950s trying to come
to terms with meaning, belief and sexuality within an abusive and
claustrophobic Catholicism. The cleverly constructed plot contrasts
survival in the wilderness after a plane crash and the recovery of
suppressed memories, with the turgid boredom of 1950s' suburbia.
The writing is limpid and engaging and tells the story with grace
and elegance. It is a book that lingers in your memory. --Dr Paul
Collins, Writer, broadcaster and historian Thomas's gradual
emergence from a narrow dogmatic culture makes a fascinating story,
cleverly constructed, in part through flashbacks to a series of
overwhelming experiences. Lyrically written at times, it succeeds
as a good mystery, unveiling its secrets in stages, but beneath
that is a poetic quest for meaning and humanity in a world where a
sexual predator is more acceptable than the one who exposes
him.
--Dr Felicity Haynes, Philosopher, former Dean of Education, The
University of Western Australia Crooked Vows is a timely
exploration of the dark and debilitating consequences of the
Catholic Church's teaching on sexuality, desire and the body.
Importantly, it recognises that damage is inflicted on both
children and the family, as well as on the members of its ordained
clergy. Framed by the story of a trainee priest's attempts to
recover memories of the days following a plane crash, the novel
cleverly integrates bush and city, guilt and desire, psychology and
faith in a surprisingly suspenseful narrative.--Robyn Cadwallader,
Blogger, Writer for Verity La Journal Offered to us as a tale of
turmoil in a Catholic soul, John Watt's novel is also a deeply-felt
study of the human struggle for liberty; of the price we might be
willing to pay, and why we should.--Robert Hillman, Award-winning
author with over 60 published works
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