'Towards a Distant Sea' is a coming-of-age story with a difference. It is a dramatic personal account of a young Australian man against the backdrop of Philippine society. Paul, a young Australian, arrives in the Philippines in 1971 as martial Law is proclaimed by President Marcos. His idealism exposes him to first-hand experiences of violence and corruption, to injustice and above all to the heroism of Filipinos during this extraordinary period of their history. The narrative confronts issues still critical to contemporary society - sexuality and religion, the struggle for human rights, the misuse of power and violence, the search for identity and the triumph of the spirit. Australian High Court Judge Michael Kirby describes this novel as 'a story...about the impact of repression on the human spirit - and the way, despite all odds, humanity struggles endlessly against worldy authority.'
