Vibrant with Words: The Letters of Ursula Bethell
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
Vibrant with Words: The Letters of Ursula Bethell
By (Author) Peter Whiteford
Te Herenga Waka University Press
Victoria University Press
24th October 2005
New Zealand
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900
B
Physical Properties
Paperback
370
Description
Ursula Bethell (1874-1945) stands at the beginning of modern poetry in New Zealand. This rich collection of letters provides us with much evidence of her 'writerly' life and the origins of her poems. It also tells the moving personal story of an early life of travel and social work followed by happy years in Rise Cottage with her companion Effie Pollen; and of the devastating effect of the younger woman's sudden death, which left Bethell, as she wrote, 'a tree struck by lightning -- dead'.
Reviews
New Zealand wasn't truly discovered until Ursula Bethell, 'very earnestly digging,' raised her head to look at the mountains." D'Arcy Cresswell, author, The Poet's Progress
Author Bio
Peter Whiteford teaches English at Victoria University of Wellington and is the editor of Eileen Duggan: Selected Poems.
