The Expatriate Myth: New Zealand writers and the colonial world

(Paperback)

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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 fnd success How prevalent was expatriatism among New Zealand writers Did their experiences fit the usual tropes about expatriatism and exile Were they feeing an oppressive society lacking in literary opportunity In the field of literary studies, scholars are ofen consumed with questions about national literature and what it means to be a New Zealander. And yet many of New Zealands 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 ofers a fresh perspective on some hoary New Zealand literary chestnuts.

Author Bio

Helen Bones is a New Zealander living in Australia, where she teaches history and has a research position with the Digital Humanities Research Group at the University of Western Sydney. She has written a number of articles for literary and historical journals, and contributed two chapters to Treasures of the University of Canterbury Library, eds Chris Jones and Bronwyn Matthews (Canterbury University Press, 2011).