The expatriate myth : New Zealand writers and the colonial world /

Bones, Helen,

The expatriate myth : New Zealand writers and the colonial world / Helen Bones. - Dunedin, New Zealand : Otago, (c)2018. - 1 online resource

Archived by the National Library of New Zealand in EPUB. Hypertext links contained in the archived instances of this title may not be functional.

Includes bibliographical references.

A lost generation -- Literary culture in New Zealand -- Making the Waitematā smoke -- The Tasman writing world -- From a garden in the Antipodes : the colonial writing world -- Future or exile? : reactions to 'overseas' writing and writers -- New Zealand writers and the modern world -- "The whole thing's been a farce" : New Zealand writers in London and overseas -- Setting the Thames on fire -- Concluding thoughts.

"Many New Zealand writers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century travelled extensively or lived overseas for a time, and they often led very interesting lives. The received wisdom is that they were forced to leave these colonial backblocks in search of literary inspiration and publishing opportunities. In The Expatriate Myth, Helen Bones presents a challenge to this conventional understanding, based on detailed historical and empirical research. Was it actually necessary for them to leave to find success? How prevalent was expatriatism among New Zealand writers? Did their experiences fit the usual tropes about expatriatism and exile? Were they fleeing an oppressive society lacking in literary opportunity? In the field of literary studies, scholars are often consumed with questions about 'national' literature and 'what it means to be a New Zealander'. And yet many of New Zealand's writers living overseas operated in a transnational way, taking advantage of colonial networks in a way that belies any notion of a single national allegiance. Most who left New Zealand, even if they were away for a time, continued to write about and interact with their homeland, and in many cases came back. In this fascinating and clear-sighted book, Helen Bones offers a fresh perspective on some hoary New Zealand literary chestnuts"--Print version.



9781988531465 9781988531472 9781988531489


Authors, New Zealand--19th century.
Authors, New Zealand--20th century.
Authors, New Zealand--New Zealand.
New Zealand literature--History and criticism.--19th century
New Zealand literature--History and criticism.--20th century
National characteristics, New Zealand, in literature.
Literature and society--History--Commonwealth countries--19th century.
Literature and society--History--Commonwealth countries--20th century.


Electronic Books.

PR9626 / .E973 2018