Blog Archives
Obituary — Peter Munz
Peter Munz (1921-2006) In 1924 Stalin is reputed to have said that of academicse had no fear but intellectuals were always a threat. Emeritus Professor Peter Munz was an intellectual, challenging received wisdom, brave in his judgements and a…
Wit and moral clarity, Hugh Roberts
Whim Wham’s New Zealand: The Best of Whim Wham 1937-1988 Terry Sturm (ed) Vintage, $34.99, ISBN 1869417577 It is by now no secret that Allen Curnow, a man with few rivals for the title of “New Zealand’s Greatest Poet”,…
Tagged with: Allen Curnow, Hugh Roberts, Issue 76, Summer 2006, Terry Sturm, Vintage, Whim Wham
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review
Home and away. Paula Morris
I Am Always With You Philip Temple Random, $34.99, ISBN 1869417739 The Viewing Platform Ian Wedde Penguin, $29.95, ISBN 9780143020929 Local writers Stevan Eldred-Grigg (Kaput!) and Tina Shaw (The Black Madonna) have found imaginative inspiration in wartime Berlin, and now…
Tagged with: Ian Wedde, Issue 76, Paula Morris, Philip Temple, Random, Summer 2006
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
“Girl interested in wave technology”, David Hill
Bright Star: Beatrice Hill Tinsley Astronomer Christine Cole Catley Cape Catley, $49.99, ISBN 1877340014 I can offer the usual apologia for astronomy. There’s its significance as a global employer (NASA alone pays 20,000 salaries). Its contributions to other sciences, such…
Tagged with: Cape Catley, Christine Cole Catley, David Hill, Issue 76, Summer 2006
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review, Science
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review, Science
Various elsewheres, Michael Hulse
Degrees of Separation Laurence Fearnley Penguin, $28.00, ISBN 0143020579 Relative Strangers Emma Neale Vintage, $27.99, ISBN 1869417828 Work in Progress Paul Thomas Black Swan, $27.99, ISBN 1869418255 Shanghai Boy Stevan Eldred-Grigg Vintage, $27.99, ISBN 1869417933 If I didn’t know…
Tagged with: Black Swan, Emma Neale, Issue 76, Laurence Fearnley, Paul Thomas, Penguin, Stevan Eldred-Grigg, Summer 2006, Vintage
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
Letters — Issue 76
Hone Heke’s importance Rawiri Taonui in his review of my book Ngapua (NZB, October 2006) expresses reservations over my claim that Hone Heke Ngapua was one of the greatest Maori leaders of the last two centuries. Until recently, given Ngapua’s…
South by east, Duncan Campbell
The Origins of China’s Awareness of New Zealand, 1674-1911 William Tai Yuen New Zealand Asia Institute, The University of Auckland, $25.00, ISBN 0473104245 Unreal City: A Chinese Poet in Auckland Yang Lian (ed Jacob Edmond and Hilary Chung) Auckland University…
Tagged with: Auckland University Press, Duncan Campbell, Issue 76, New Zealand Asia Institute, Summer 2006, University of Auckland, William Tai Yuen, Yang Lian
Posted in History, Memoir, Non-fiction, Review, Sociology
Posted in History, Memoir, Non-fiction, Review, Sociology
The willow path to peace, Hamish McDouall
John Wright’s Indian Summers John Wright with Sharda Ugra and Paul Thomas Hodder Moa Beckett, $49.99, ISBN 9781869710620 In a sport largely populated by talented solipsists, former New Zealand captain John Wright has always stood out within cricket for his…
Tagged with: Hamish McDouall, Hodder Moa Beckett, Issue 76, John Wright, Paul Thomas, Sharda Ugra, Summer 2006
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review, Sport
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review, Sport
Faith and works, Anna Rogers
Shrewd Sanctity: The Story of Kathleen Hall, 1896-1970: Missionary Nurse in China Rae McGregor Polygraphia, $30.00, ISBN 1877332321 In an age of “icons” and “celebrities”, true heroes are hard to find. Kathleen Hall, however, was the real deal. This extraordinary…
Tagged with: Anna Rogers, Issue 76, Kathleen Hall, Polygraphia, Rae McGregor, Summer 2006
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review
Books for Christmas
Posted in Comment