The critical reception of Frank Sargeson's short stories, 1935-1940

Abstract

This thesis reviews the contemporary response to Frank Sargeson's early short fiction, from the publication of his first story in 1935 up until 1940. All primary as well as most secondary material examined is held in the Sargeson Papers, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. Although the material is limited to that library's collection, Sargeson kept a very full record of letters and clippings which that library now holds, and it is unlikely that there are any other important sources. From this examination it is argued that the welcome given to the early social realist sketches by the editor of Tomorrow, Kennaway Henderson, and by other Tomorrow writers such as Denis Glover, H. Winston Rhodes, A.R.D. Fairburn and D'Arcy Cresswell was based on shared liberal views and (contemporary evidence is slight) on an appreciation of Sargeson as imaginative writer. An examination of the small amount of material by writers outside New Zealand, such as the English writers John Lehmann and William Plomer, indicates a positive response based on moral and aesthetic views similar to those of the Tomorrow group. Little contemporary material was found which emanated from a wider readership. The thesis takes the view that this absence of written material from sources outside the Tomorrow group does not suggest a plethora of lost or unavailable material but that, quite simply, there was little interest in the sketches in the 1930s. Although factors such as apathy or low sales of Conversation with My Uncle in 1936 cannot be proved, the abundance of written comment on New Zealand writers such as Nelle Scanlan or Ngaio Marsh sighted during the course of this research suggests that Sargeson did not gain a wide readership during the 1930s. The view that the absence of written response from the New Zealand public is negative and indicates a lack of interest in the social concern of the early sketches is taken throughout the thesis. The final chapter examines a 1940 review by Oliver Duff and argues that the reactionary sentiments expressed in this review are the beginning of more actively expressed adverse response to Sargeson's depiction of down and out New Zealanders. An appendix to the thesis contains a description of the acquisition of the Sargeson Papers and a note on their contents and scope. At the conclusion of the thesis is a comprehensive bibliography of writings by and about Sargeson 1935-1940.