Dunedin

Dunedin’s remarkable literary heritage is founded on Charles Brasch, who presided over the nation’s literature from his Dunedin home for many years as the editor of Landfall, on James K Baxter, arguably New Zealand’s greatest poet; and on internationally celebrated novelist Janet Frame. It is an impressive record for a small city, and all three are represented in Christine Johnston’s lively anthology of Dunedin writing. Also featured are works by well-known poets and memorists Brian Turner, Ruth Dallas and Alistair Campbell, and by a new generation of writers that includes Paula Boock and Emma Neale. This rich collection is a delight from beginning to end and will satisfy the most demanding reader. The ‘Our City’ series offers a new perspective on New Zealand’s major cities. Each volume presents a selection of the literature inspired by one of New Zealand’s four major cities. Chosen with care by a well-known editor from each city, the selections include short stories, poems, and extracts from novels and writers' memoirs. Each contributor, whether contemporary or historical, has a strong association with the city concerned, and every selection has something significant to say about the character of the city. Together they create a vivid picture of what makes the city unique.