Voices Of Our Country (Press, 23 July 1977)
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Summary: Voices Of Our Country (Press, 23 July 1977)
The review, published on 23 July 1977, discusses "Ten Modern New Zealand Story Writers," an anthology curated by Phoebe Meikle. This is Meikle's fourth anthology, featuring a total of 16 stories—six long and five groups of shorter pieces—from notable writers including Maurice Duggan, Maurice Gee, Patricia Grace, Rowley Habib, Witi Ihimaera, Fiona Kidman, O. E. Middleton, Phillip Mincher, C. K. Stead, and Margaret Sutherland. Most of the included stories are previously published, with 11 having been written after 1970. The anthology is notable for its approach, where each longer story is often accompanied by shorter works by the same author. This structure allows readers to delve deeper into the thematic explorations of each writer and to experience character perspectives from various angles. The diversity of themes and styles is highlighted, ranging from Duggan's witty take on betrayal in “Along Rideout Road that Summer” to Ihimaera's straightforward narratives on Maori kinship. The anthology strikes a balance between Maori and Pakeha narratives and presents an equal representation of male and female perspectives. The reviewer particularly praises Fiona Kidman's contributions, "A Woman of Property" and "The Stung Ones," which tackle the complex subjects of cross-generational love and homosexual love, respectively. The review argues that the skilled handling of these challenging themes showcases the maturity and sophistication of New Zealand's short story writers. In summary, the anthology is well-received, reflecting that New Zealand short story authors have arrived as significant voices in literature, effectively managing the intricacies of modern storytelling.
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