Controversial novel not republished

By Paul Harper 2:09 PM Tuesday Sep 21, 2010

Witi Ihimaera. Photo / Richard Robinson

Book publisher Penguin has decided against republishing Witi Ihimaera's controversial novel The Trowenna Sea, despite last year promising an amended version would be released this year.

The Whale Rider author was found to have plagarised the work of historians in the historical fiction released last year by Penguin imprint Raupo.
The plagarism was discovered by a reviewer who googled extracts from The Trowenna Sea, which were found to match the works of other writers.

Following the revelation Mr Ihimaera said he would purchase the remaining warehouse stock of the book and Penguin promised they would take back stock from retailers who wished to return it.
Mr Ihimaera and Penguin's publishing director Geoff Walker also said a revised edition would be released this year, with a section by the author acknowledging the authors of the work he had used.

However Mr Walker today said they will not be republishing The Trowenna Sea "in the foreseeable future".

Full piece at NZH

Footnote:
This story appeared in the NZH last Tuesday but somehow or another The Bookman missed it in both my morning paper edition of the paper and in the online edition. Sorry to be so far behind the news on thos occasion.