Title: The New Zealand Novel 1860-1965

Author: Joan Stevens

Publication details: Reed Publishing (NZ) Ltd, 1966

Digital publication kindly authorised by: Sylvia Johnston

Part of: New Zealand Texts Collection

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The New Zealand Novel 1860-1965

Four Established Experts

Four Established Experts. In the 1920-39 period four women writers appear who have made reputations for good entertainment both here and in overseas markets. They are, in order of publication, Rosemary Rees (first novel 1924), Nelle Scanlan (1931), Ngaio Marsh (1934), and Mary Scott (1934).

page 43

Rosemary Rees has written over twenty novels. They all make the conventional romantic assumptions, as the titles indicate: April's Sowing 1924; Heather of the South, 1924; Wild Wild Heart, 1928; Penelope Waits, 1947, The Proud Diana, 1962. When the background is New Zealand, it is the wide sheep lands of Hawke's Bay or Poverty Bay, offering scope for open spaces, outdoor adventure, and strong suntanned heroes, a heady mixture for unsophisticated feminine readers. At this level, the characters can be only stock puppets, while the local colour is exotically painted in as required, usually in explanatory layers.

Nevertheless, such stories have their place in this account of New Zealand fiction. No national literature grows up overnight; there must always be a base of average, bread-and-butter writing which builds up a reading public accustomed to seeing its life used or misused as the material for fiction. In this way, the novels of Louisa Baker in the years around 1900 served a purpose. The stereotyped characters and the imposed patterns of romance in the novels of Rosemary Rees do not entirely prohibit some good New Zealand touches, and some truthful descriptions of men and things.