Charles Brasch Journals 1945-1957

Discover the remarkable insights of New Zealand poet and editor Charles Brasch in the meticulously curated journals spanning 1945 to 1957. This hardback edition, measuring 170 x 245 mm and encompassing 660 pages, captures Brasch's pivotal years post-World War II as he returned to New Zealand with an ambition to establish a literary quarterly through the esteemed Caxton Press. Dive into the nuanced world of New Zealand's literary and artistic scene as Brasch documents his interactions with noteworthy figures, including Frank Sargeson, A.R.D. Fairburn, and Janet Frame, among others. His candid reflections and rich descriptions offer a profound glimpse into the lives and works of the country's leading artists and thinkers. Not only do these journals detail his professional journey as the editor of Landfall, but they also reveal Brasch's personal yearnings for connections and intimacy, showcasing his emotional landscape with sincerity. Enjoy intimate stories of his relationships and an evocative narrative of his love for nature, highlighted by inspiring accounts of adventures along the Milford and Routeburn tracks. Concluding with a transformative trip to Europe in 1957, this volume illustrates how New Zealand evolved into a profound center for Brasch—a place where he found his poetic voice and identity. Perfect for literature enthusiasts and historians, this invaluable collection is a vital addition to any library, shining a light on the intersection of personal and artistic journeys during a transformative era in New Zealand's history.

Author: Charles Brasch Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: hardback
Dimensions: 170 x 245 mm
Pages: 660
Publication Date: 01-05-2017

This volume of Charles Brasch’s journals covers the years from late 1945 to the end of 1957, when the poet and editor was aged 36 to 48. It begins with his return to New Zealand after World War II to establish a literary quarterly to be published by the Caxton Press. The journals cover the first decade or so of his distinguished editorship of Landfall, a role that brought Brasch into contact with New Zealand’s leading artists and intelligentsia. His frank and often detailed descriptions of these people - including Frank Sargeson, A.R.D. Fairburn, Keith Sinclair, Eric McCormick, James Bertram, J.C. Beaglehole, Maria Dronke, Fred and Evelyn Page, Alistair Campbell, Bill Oliver, Toss and Edith Woollaston, Denis Glover, Allen Curnow, Leo Bensemann, Lawrence Baigent, Ngaio Marsh, Colin McCahon, James K. Baxter, Janet Frame, Ruth Dallas and many others - are among the highlights of the book. Unmarried and longing for intimacy, Brasch also writes with great candour about his relationships with Rose Archdall, Rodney Kennedy and Harry Scott, revealing a side of himself that has not been known about before. Central to Brasch’s life was the vocation of poetry. He writes movingly about his own work, and also about his love of nature and the outdoors, including lively descriptions of walking the Milford and Routeburn tracks. The book ends with his visit to Europe in 1957, which confirmed his sense that New Zealand had become for him ‘a centre & a world’. A lengthy introduction by Peter Simpson and other editorial apparatus guide the reader through this engrossing material.