Jane Mander
Encyclopedia
Mary Jane Mander was a New Zealand
novelist and journalist
.
, situated south of Auckland
, she had little schooling, yet was teaching at primary school while being tutored for a high school education. Her father, the Hon. Francis Mander
, was member for the Marsden
electorate in the Parliament of New Zealand
and of the Legislative Council
, and a descendant of the Mander family
of Midland England
. He was a pioneer sawmiller and later purchased The Northern Advocate, a popular newspaper, and she was able to hone her skills as a journalist.
Mander went on to become editor of the Dargaville North Auckland Times in 1907. In 1910 she went to Sydney
, where she met and became friends with William Holman
, who later become premier of New South Wales
. While there she worked as a freelance journalist, submitting articles to the Maoriland Worker
under the pseudonym Manda Lloyd.
In 1912 she travelled to New York
in order to study at the Columbia University
, where she excelled in her studies despite having numerous part-time jobs. Her poor health forced her to abandon studying after just three years. She joined the suffrage
movement in New York; campaigning for the state referendum on women's franchise. She worked for the Red Cross when the United States
entered World War I
.
, it received a somewhat hostile response back in New Zealand, where critics disapproved of the novel's unconventional themes. They also took offence at her alteration of geography and population to suit the story. Alistair Fox has argued that The Story of a New Zealand River was a significant influence on the film The Piano
(1993) by Jane Campion
.
Her next two novels, The Passionate Puritan (1921) and the less popular The Strange Attraction (1922) were both set in New Zealand, and were based around her childhood experiences.
In 1923, Mander moved to London
, where she worked for the Harrison Press of Paris. She wrote numerous essays and short stories, and acted as a London correspondent for multiple New Zealand newspapers. Her next novel, Allen Adair (1925), was the last to be set in New Zealand, which was set around the kauri gum-digging
industry. It centered on the hero's struggle against the middle-class aspirations of his family. Her next two novels, The Besieging City (1926) and Pins and Pinnacles (1928), were set in New York and Paris
respectively. She also completed another novel, but had it destroyed after it was rejected by a publisher.
Her health failing, she returned to New Zealand in 1932, where she looked after her elderly father. She attempted to write her seventh novel, but only managed a few articles and reviews until her death in Whangarei
in 1949, at the age of 72.
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...
novelist and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Early life
Born in the small community of RamaramaRamarama
Ramarama is a small community at the far south of the Auckland Region in New Zealand's North Island, located just to the north of the Bombay Hills ....
, situated south of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, she had little schooling, yet was teaching at primary school while being tutored for a high school education. Her father, the Hon. Francis Mander
Francis Mander
Francis Mander was an Independent Conservative then from 1908 a Reform Party member of parliament in New Zealand.He won the Marsden electorate in Northland in the 1902 general election, and held it until 1922, when he retired....
, was member for the Marsden
Marsden (New Zealand electorate)
Marsden is a former parliamentary electorate, in the Whangarei District in the Northland Region of New Zealand.-Population Centres:The electorate was mixed urban and rural, around the city of Whangarei.-History:...
electorate in the Parliament of New Zealand
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
and of the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
, and a descendant of the Mander family
Mander family
The Mander family has held for over 200 years a prominent position in the Midland counties of England, both in the family business and public life....
of Midland England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was a pioneer sawmiller and later purchased The Northern Advocate, a popular newspaper, and she was able to hone her skills as a journalist.
Mander went on to become editor of the Dargaville North Auckland Times in 1907. In 1910 she went to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, where she met and became friends with William Holman
William Holman
William Arthur Holman was an Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales, Australia, who split with the party on the conscription issue in 1916 during World War I, and immediately became Premier of a conservative Nationalist Party Government.-Early life:Holman was born in St Pancras, London,...
, who later become premier of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. While there she worked as a freelance journalist, submitting articles to the Maoriland Worker
Maoriland Worker
The Maoriland Worker was a leading New Zealand labour journal of the early 20th century. It was initially published monthly.It was launched in 1910 by the Shearers Union, and was soon taken over by the New Zealand Federation of Labour and became the official organ of the federation.The journal...
under the pseudonym Manda Lloyd.
In 1912 she travelled to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in order to study at the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where she excelled in her studies despite having numerous part-time jobs. Her poor health forced her to abandon studying after just three years. She joined the suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
movement in New York; campaigning for the state referendum on women's franchise. She worked for the Red Cross when the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Novelist
During this time she also worked on her most well-known and highly praised novel The Story of a New Zealand River (1920), which tells the story of an Englishwoman who has to adjust to living in an isolated timber-mill settlement. Despite being popular in both the U.S. and the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, it received a somewhat hostile response back in New Zealand, where critics disapproved of the novel's unconventional themes. They also took offence at her alteration of geography and population to suit the story. Alistair Fox has argued that The Story of a New Zealand River was a significant influence on the film The Piano
The Piano
The Piano is a 1993 New Zealand drama film about a mute pianist and her daughter, set during the mid-19th century in a rainy, muddy frontier backwater on the west coast of New Zealand. The film was written and directed by Jane Campion, and stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin...
(1993) by Jane Campion
Jane Campion
Jane Campion is a filmmaker and screenwriter. She is one of the most internationally successful New Zealand directors, although most of her work has been made in or financed by other countries, principally Australia – where she now lives – and the United States...
.
Her next two novels, The Passionate Puritan (1921) and the less popular The Strange Attraction (1922) were both set in New Zealand, and were based around her childhood experiences.
In 1923, Mander moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she worked for the Harrison Press of Paris. She wrote numerous essays and short stories, and acted as a London correspondent for multiple New Zealand newspapers. Her next novel, Allen Adair (1925), was the last to be set in New Zealand, which was set around the kauri gum-digging
Gum-digger
Kauri gum, a fossilized resin detracted from kauri trees, is used for chewing or tattooing, and often is made into jewellery. The gum comes from kauri trees found in Agathis australis forests. The trees once covered much of the New Zealand North Island, before Māori and European settlers caused...
industry. It centered on the hero's struggle against the middle-class aspirations of his family. Her next two novels, The Besieging City (1926) and Pins and Pinnacles (1928), were set in New York and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
respectively. She also completed another novel, but had it destroyed after it was rejected by a publisher.
Her health failing, she returned to New Zealand in 1932, where she looked after her elderly father. She attempted to write her seventh novel, but only managed a few articles and reviews until her death in Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
in 1949, at the age of 72.