Blog Archives

Poppy lopping and cultural cringing

Posted on June 9, 2015 by NZ Books

Novelist Chris Else reflects on “the Eleanor Catton affair” Among the matters raised by the Eleanor Catton affair, two seem to have been given short shrift: our treatment of our tall poppies and whether or not we suffer from cultural…

Tagged with: Chris Else, Eleanor Catton, Issue 110, Winter 2015
Posted in Comment

Crying duffers, Jane Stafford

Posted on August 30, 2013 by NZ Books

The Luminaries Eleanor Catton Victoria University Press, $35.00, ISBN 9780864738950 This is an extraordinary work. It is over 800 pages long, with a cast of characters to match and an intricately complex plot – or web of plots – revealed…

Tagged with: Eleanor Catton, Issue 103, Jane Stafford, Spring 2013, Victoria University Press
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review

The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton

Posted on December 1, 2011 by NZ Books

An extract from Eleanor Catton’s new novel. Mercury in Sagittarius (January 27, 1866) The 12 men congregated in the smoking-room of the Crown Hotel gave the impression of a party accidentally met. For all their variety of comportment and dress…

Tagged with: Eleanor Catton, Issue 96, Summer 2011
Posted in Extract, Fiction, Literature

Agents and agency, Eleanor Catton

Posted on September 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Eleanor Catton reflects on the path to the publication of her debut novel, The Rehearsal. When I first met with Fergus Barrowman of Victoria University Press to talk about the possibility of publishing The Rehearsal, he came to meet me…

Tagged with: Eleanor Catton, Issue 87, Spring 2009
Posted in Byline

Age-old contracts, Elizabeth Caffin

Posted on March 1, 2009 by NZ Books

A Year to Learn a Woman Paddy Richardson Penguin Books, $28.00, ISBN 9780143010029 Misconduct Bridget van der Zijpp Victoria University Press, $30.00, ISBN 9780864735751 The Rehearsal Eleanor Catton Victoria University Press, $30.00, ISBN 9780864735812 A woman around 40, now on…

Tagged with: Autumn 2009, Bridget van der Zijpp, Eleanor Catton, Elizabeth Caffin, Issue 85, Paddy Richardson, Penguin Books, Victoria University Press
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review