Fiona Kidman
Encyclopedia
Dame Fiona Judith Kidman, DNZM
, OBE
(born 26 March 1940 in Hawera
, New Zealand
), is a New Zealand novelist, poet, scriptwriter and short story author.
Kidman grew up in Northland and worked as a librarian in Rotorua
after leaving school. She married Ian Kidman in 1960 and they have a son and daughter. She now lives in Wellington
.
Kidman began her writing career as a freelance journalist in the early 1960s and was mentored by Bruce Mason
and William Austin
in theatre and radio theatre. Her first of eight novels was published in 1979, and she has also published four short story collections and four collections of poetry. Her work is often concerned with the effects of suburban and provincial lower middle-class life, its morals and its hypocrisies.
Kidman is active in the literary community, serving as the national president of PEN
from 1981 to 1983 and as the president of the New Zealand Book Council
from 1992 to 1995. In 1988 she founded and ran the Fiona Kidman Creative Writing School, which is now part of Whitireia Community Polytechnic
. She was the Meridian Energy
Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellow for 2006 and President of Honour of the New Zealand Book Council
. Her latest novel, The Captive Wife was runner-up for the Deutz Medal and won the Readers' Choice award at the 2006 Montana New Zealand Book Awards
. She was knighted in 1998 for her services to literature.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 26 March 1940 in Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
), is a New Zealand novelist, poet, scriptwriter and short story author.
Kidman grew up in Northland and worked as a librarian in Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
after leaving school. She married Ian Kidman in 1960 and they have a son and daughter. She now lives in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
Kidman began her writing career as a freelance journalist in the early 1960s and was mentored by Bruce Mason
Bruce Mason
Bruce Edward George Mason, CBE was a significant playwright in New Zealand who wrote 34 plays and influenced the cultural landscape of the country through his contribution to theatre. In 1980, he was awarded the prestigious CBE.The Bruce Mason Award, one of the most important playwrighting...
and William Austin
William Austin
William Austin was a British character actor who was born on a sugar plantation in Georgetown in British Guiana . On the death of his father he was brought to England to complete his education...
in theatre and radio theatre. Her first of eight novels was published in 1979, and she has also published four short story collections and four collections of poetry. Her work is often concerned with the effects of suburban and provincial lower middle-class life, its morals and its hypocrisies.
Kidman is active in the literary community, serving as the national president of PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
from 1981 to 1983 and as the president of the New Zealand Book Council
New Zealand Book Council
The New Zealand Book Council is a not-for-profit organisation that presents a wide range of programmes that promote books and reading.It was established in 1972 as a response to UNESCO's International Book Year ....
from 1992 to 1995. In 1988 she founded and ran the Fiona Kidman Creative Writing School, which is now part of Whitireia Community Polytechnic
Whitireia Community Polytechnic
Whitireia Community Polytechnic is a crown owned tertiary education institute in New Zealand.-History:Whitireia was founded in 1986 in Porirua and was originally named Parumoana Community College...
. She was the Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...
Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellow for 2006 and President of Honour of the New Zealand Book Council
New Zealand Book Council
The New Zealand Book Council is a not-for-profit organisation that presents a wide range of programmes that promote books and reading.It was established in 1972 as a response to UNESCO's International Book Year ....
. Her latest novel, The Captive Wife was runner-up for the Deutz Medal and won the Readers' Choice award at the 2006 Montana New Zealand Book Awards
Montana New Zealand Book Awards
The New Zealand Post Book Awards are a series of literary awards to works of New Zealand citizens. They were created in 1996, as a merge of the two previously most relevant awards in New Zealand: the Montana Book Awards and the New Zealand Book Awards...
. She was knighted in 1998 for her services to literature.
Novels
- A Breed of Women (1979)
- Mandarin Summer (1981)
- Paddy's Puzzle (1983) (USA title: In the Clear Light)
- The Book of Secrets (1987)
- True Stars (1990)
- Ricochet Baby (1996)
- Songs from the Violet Café (2003)
- The Captive Wife (2005)
Short Story Collections
- Mrs Dixon & Friend (1982)
- Unsuitable Friends (1988)
- The Foreign Woman (1994)
- The House Within (1997)
- The Best of Fiona Kidman's Short Stories (1998)
- A Needle in the Heart (2002)
- The Trouble with Fire (2011)
Poetry
- Honey & Bitters (1975)
- On the Tightrope (1977)
- Going to the Chathams (1985)
- Wakeful Nights (1993)
Editor
- New Zealand Love Stories: An Oxford Anthology (1998)
- The Best New Zealand Fiction:1 (2004)
- The Best New Zealand Fiction:2 (2005)
Awards
- Ngaio MarshNgaio MarshDame Ngaio Marsh DBE , born Edith Ngaio Marsh, was a New Zealand crime writer and theatre director. There is some uncertainty over her birth date as her father neglected to register her birth until 1900...
Award for television writing (1972) - New Zealand Scholarship in Letters (1981)
- Mobil New Zealand/ Outlook Short Story Award (1985)
- New Zealand Book Awards for The Book of Secrets (1987)
- Officer, Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to literature (1988) - Arts Council Award for Achievement (1988)
- Dame Commander New Zealand Order of MeritNew Zealand Order of MeritThe New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
for services to literature (1998) - AW Reed Award for Lifetime Achievement (2001)
- Meridian Energy Katherine MansfieldKatherine MansfieldKathleen Mansfield Beauchamp Murry was a prominent modernist writer of short fiction who was born and brought up in colonial New Zealand and wrote under the pen name of Katherine Mansfield. Mansfield left for Great Britain in 1908 where she encountered Modernist writers such as D.H. Lawrence and...
Fellow (2006) - Runner up Deutz Medal and winner of People's Choice at Montana New Zealand Book AwardsMontana New Zealand Book AwardsThe New Zealand Post Book Awards are a series of literary awards to works of New Zealand citizens. They were created in 1996, as a merge of the two previously most relevant awards in New Zealand: the Montana Book Awards and the New Zealand Book Awards...
(2006) - Knight, Order of Arts and Letters (2009)
- Knight, Legion of Honour (2009)