Stevan Eldred-Grigg
Encyclopedia
Stevan Treleaven Eldred-Grigg is the New Zealand author
of nine novels, eight history books and various essays and short stories.
Born in the Grey Valley, New Zealand, he was one of nine children of Valerie 'Darkie' Forbes, a former factory worker, and her mining official husband Gilbert Eldred-Grigg, living in the small mining town of Blackball
. He is of English, Cornish
and Scottish descent. Stevan was brought up in the West Coast
and Canterbury. He graduated from the University of Canterbury
in 1975 with an MA in History before obtaining a PhD at the Australian National University
in Canberra in 1978.
Initially a writer of short stories, the first three major works published by Eldred-Grigg were A Southern Gentry, a history of landowning families in the southern provinces of New Zealand, A New History of Canterbury, a social history of the province, and Pleasures of the Flesh, a book about sexuality and drugs in colonial New Zealand. In 1987 he published his first novel, Oracles and Miracles, the story of two sisters growing up in Christchurch
before and during World War II
. Since then he has written several fiction and non-fiction books. Kaput!, unlike all of his other work, focuses on Europe and portrays an ordinary housewife struggling to deal with day-to-day life in wartime Berlin during the period of the Third Reich in Germany
.
Eldred-Grigg was the first living New Zealand writer of literary fiction to have had a novel translated into Chinese when his 1987 novel, Oracles and Miracles, was published in Shanghai in 2002 under the new title ‘剩’贤奇迹.
Eldred-Grigg has lived in Mexico City
, Iowa City, Berlin
and Shanghai
. He is currently based in Wellington
but spends significant periods in Al Ain and Samoa
. His two most recent books are Diggers, Hatters & Whores
, a history of gold rushes in New Zealand, and The Great Wrong War, a highly controversial history of New Zealand during World War I
.
He was married for eighteen years, after which for five years he was the partner of Jesús Rodolfo Villarreal Micarray, and for two years of Han Chao. He has three sons.
New Zealand literature
New Zealand literature is essentially literature in English that is either written by New Zealanders, or migrants, dealing with New Zealand themes or places and is primarily a 20th Century creation...
of nine novels, eight history books and various essays and short stories.
Born in the Grey Valley, New Zealand, he was one of nine children of Valerie 'Darkie' Forbes, a former factory worker, and her mining official husband Gilbert Eldred-Grigg, living in the small mining town of Blackball
Blackball, New Zealand
Blackball is a small town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, approximately 29 km from Greymouth.Blackball was named after the Black Ball Shipping Line, which leased land in the area to mine for coal. It was formerly known as Joliffetown and Moonlight Gully.Blackball is a centre...
. He is of English, Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
and Scottish descent. Stevan was brought up in the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
and Canterbury. He graduated from the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in 1975 with an MA in History before obtaining a PhD at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra in 1978.
Initially a writer of short stories, the first three major works published by Eldred-Grigg were A Southern Gentry, a history of landowning families in the southern provinces of New Zealand, A New History of Canterbury, a social history of the province, and Pleasures of the Flesh, a book about sexuality and drugs in colonial New Zealand. In 1987 he published his first novel, Oracles and Miracles, the story of two sisters growing up in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Since then he has written several fiction and non-fiction books. Kaput!, unlike all of his other work, focuses on Europe and portrays an ordinary housewife struggling to deal with day-to-day life in wartime Berlin during the period of the Third Reich in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Eldred-Grigg was the first living New Zealand writer of literary fiction to have had a novel translated into Chinese when his 1987 novel, Oracles and Miracles, was published in Shanghai in 2002 under the new title ‘剩’贤奇迹.
Eldred-Grigg has lived in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Iowa City, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. He is currently based 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...
but spends significant periods in Al Ain and Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. His two most recent books are Diggers, Hatters & Whores
Diggers, Hatters & Whores
Diggers, Hatters & Whores is a 2008 history of gold rushes in New Zealand by Stevan Eldred-Grigg.The book's thesis is that the rushes presented a challenge to the economic status quo in New Zealand, which was at the time politically and economically controlled by farmer politicians...
, a history of gold rushes in New Zealand, and The Great Wrong War, a highly controversial history of New Zealand during 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...
.
He was married for eighteen years, after which for five years he was the partner of Jesús Rodolfo Villarreal Micarray, and for two years of Han Chao. He has three sons.
Novels
Dates given record the date of first publication:- 1987. Oracles and Miracles
- 1989. The Siren Celia
- 1991. The Shining City
- 1993. Gardens of Fire
- 1994. My History, I Think
- 1995. Mum
- 1997. Blue Blood
- 2000. Kaput!
- 2006. Shanghai Boy
Non-Fiction
- 1980. A Southern Gentry
- 1982. A New History of Canterbury
- 1984. Pleasures of the Flesh
- 1990. New Zealand Working People
- 1996. The Rich
- 2004. Xin Xilan de Wenxue Lucheng
- 2008. Diggers, Hatters & WhoresDiggers, Hatters & WhoresDiggers, Hatters & Whores is a 2008 history of gold rushes in New Zealand by Stevan Eldred-Grigg.The book's thesis is that the rushes presented a challenge to the economic status quo in New Zealand, which was at the time politically and economically controlled by farmer politicians...
- 2010. The Great Wrong War