Frank Sargeson (1903 - 1982) is credited with "creating" New Zealand literature.
Many people consider him "a chronicler of the experience of the ordinary people of New Zealand during the long depression of the 1920s and 1930s."
"For years his work was read as a celebration of socially conservative men."
In fact, his original name was Norris Davey. In 1929, he was arrested because of a homosexual experience with an older man. He avoided prison by testifying against his friend. (The friend was sentenced to four years' hard labor.) Mr. Davey decided to become a writer and changed his name to Frank Sargeson. Most of his friends and readers never knew about the 1929 incident.
The author of the article that I read says that in "the best of his work, the narrative is fragmented; there are sudden ellipses and omissions. He shifts aim slightly, deliberately missing the obvious dramatic bullseye."
Source: An article by Duncan McLean in the June 7 print issue of the London Review of Books.
Many people consider him "a chronicler of the experience of the ordinary people of New Zealand during the long depression of the 1920s and 1930s."
"For years his work was read as a celebration of socially conservative men."
In fact, his original name was Norris Davey. In 1929, he was arrested because of a homosexual experience with an older man. He avoided prison by testifying against his friend. (The friend was sentenced to four years' hard labor.) Mr. Davey decided to become a writer and changed his name to Frank Sargeson. Most of his friends and readers never knew about the 1929 incident.
The author of the article that I read says that in "the best of his work, the narrative is fragmented; there are sudden ellipses and omissions. He shifts aim slightly, deliberately missing the obvious dramatic bullseye."
Source: An article by Duncan McLean in the June 7 print issue of the London Review of Books.
