Alan Duff, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?

Otto Heim (University of Hong Kong)
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What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?

is Alan Duff’s fourth novel and the sequel to

Once Were Warriors

, published six years after the phenomenal success of the author’s literary debut. The story likewise is set six years on from the events in

Warriors

, which, however, continue to cast their shadow on the lives of the surviving members of the Heke family. The novel’s title, taken from a 60s Motown song, echoes that of the longest chapter in

Once Were Warriors

, “Jake and the Broken of Hearts and Spirits”, and Jake is the main focus of interest of the story, but the first chapter immediately suggests that he is a changed man. Sharing a state house with Cody, the street kid he took under his wing at the end of

Warriors

, he has had a steady job for five years, rides a bus to work every…

1026 words

Citation: Heim, Otto. "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 March 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=23261, accessed 29 March 2024.]

23261 What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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