Root and Branch : Essays on Inheritance

A poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the complexities of Turkish-Australian life.

In Root and Branch, Eda Gunaydin weaves together personal experiences and sharp cultural criticism to examine race, class, gender, and the legacies of migration. From the kebab shops of Western Sydney to the weight of family expectations, Gunaydin's essays delve into the nuances of Turkish diaspora and the search for connection in a fragmented world. With humor and vulnerability, she challenges neat narratives of belonging and asks: What do we inherit, and how do we make a home for ourselves?

For readers seeking insightful reflections on identity, family, and the search for meaning in a multicultural world, Root and Branch offers a powerful and moving journey. Discover a fresh voice in Australian literature that speaks to the heart of what it means to belong.

Eda Gunaydin is a Turkish-Australian essayist and researcher whose writing explores class, capital, intergenerational trauma, and diaspora. You can find her work in the Sydney Review of Books, Meanjin, The Lifted Brow, and others. She has been a finalist for a Queensland Literary Award and the Scribe Nonfiction Prize. Root and Branch is her debut essay collection.