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Keri Hulme, a New Zealand native, was born on March 9, 1947 in Christchurch, New Zealand. She is the daughter of John W. who was a carpenter and businessman, and Mere who was a credit manager. In 1967-68 Keri attended the University of Canterbury. Throughout her career she has worked as a fisher, TV director, cook, and a writer. She was a writer in residence at Otago University in New Zealand in 1978, and in 1985 at the University of Canterbury. Keri Hulme has said that she enjoys fishing, painting, drinking, reading, walking, playing, eating, and people-watching in her spare time (Who's Who 309). She belongs to the New Zealand Literary Fund (advisory committee) and the New Zealand Indecent Publications Tribunal.
Awards
Hulme has won many prestigious awards for her work including the "Maori Trust Fund Prize (for writing in English) 1977, Writing Bursary 1983, mini-Burns Fellowship 1977, shared Canty Writing fellowship 1985, Mobil Pegasus Award (for Maori literature), NZ Book Award (fiction) 1984; Booker-McConnell Prize 1985, Chianti Ruddino regional Award 1987" (Who's Who 309).
Works by Keri Hulme
She is currently working on a novel, On Shadowside.
The Bone People
The Bone People, Hulme's most famous work, evolved from a short story entitled "Simon Peter's Shell." She wanted to incorporate both real and invented Maori myths into her novel (for more information see "Literatures of Australia and New Zealand: New Zealand literature: MODERN MAORI LITERATURE" (Britannica Online). See also Maori Myths and Legends). The Bone People focuses on three main characters. The central character is Kerewin Holmes (a character similar to Hulme) who lives isolated in a seaside tower, a mute child named Simon, and his abusive stepfather Joe Gillayley. Hulme explains: "What I was doing in The Bone People was getting my head straight on questions like: What happens to outcasts? Is there any point to life? What would happen if Maori spiritual presence was resurrected in this land of ours? She describes her story as a deliberate attempt to manufacture New Zealand myth, to blend real and invented Maori legends with European literary style, harmonizing both of her country's cultural influences'"(Contemporary Literary Criticism 158). The Bone People was rejected by many publishers, until in 1981 a small feminist publishing company, the Spiral, was formed by women who were enthusiastic about the novel. The novel was printed in an unedited form and has received international critical acclaim since its publication.
Themes
Hulme's books incorporate a conglomerate of themes. She writes on love, violence, identity, nationality, and responsibility of the citizen. She also incorporates themes of "exploitation of the land, family violence, and the regeneration of Maori spirituality".......Critics most often praise Hulme for her imaginative and powerful style that blends reality and myth in a simple, yet serious, narrative; They note that the themes of love, violence national identity, and social responsibility are compellingly examined through the relationships of the three main characters" (Contemporary Literary Criticism 158) in The Bone People. Hulme's style ranges from prose to poetry, incorporating both reality and myths which have no beginning and no end. In an interview granted to CA in March 1987, Hulme revealed a lot about herself, her works, and her life (see "Works Cited" below)
Works Cited
Contemporary Authors, Keri Hulme. pp. 1-13. Online. Internet. 10/18/97. Available: 1989. http://galenet.gale.com/m/mcp/netacgi/nph-brs?d=CADB&s1=Hulme,+Keri&s2=&1=NAS,NAMAXR&op1=WITH&pg2=NAT&p=
Interview with Keri Hulme. See Contemporary Authors, Keri Hulme. pp. 1-13. Online. 10/18/97. Available: http://galenet.gale.com/m/mcp/netacgi/nph-brs?d=CADB&s1=Hulme,+Keri&s2=&1=NAS,NAMAXR&op1=WITH&pg2=NAT&p=
"Keri Hulme." Contemporary Literary Criticism: Yearbook 1985. Vol. 39. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Co,1986. 158-167.
"Keri Hulme." Who's Who in New Zealand. 12th Edition. Octopus Publishing Co., 1991. 309.
"Keri Hulme." Bateman Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Bateman Publishing Co,1986. 579.
Literatures of Australia and New Zealand: New Zealand literature: MODERN MAORI LITERATURE." Britannica Online. http://www.eb.com:180/cgi-bin/g?DocF=macro/5000/47/7.html.
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Author: Hayley Scheck, Fall 1997
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