New release by one of NZ's major poets, Kendrick Smithyman

A posthumous collection of previously unpublished poems by University of Auckland alumnus Kendrick Smithyman will be launched at Old Government House next week.

The book entitled Private Bestiary: selected unpublished poems, 1944-1993, published by Titus Books,
(rrp $33.95) consists of poems discovered by Scott Hamilton, also an alumnus from the University of Auckland, during his exploration of the private papers Kendrick Smithyman bequeathed to the University of Auckland Library.

These previously-unseen pieces illuminate aspects of Smithyman's life and work that were hitherto obscure, and help us appreciate the extent of his achievement as a writer and a man.

As a poet Smithyman was well ahead of his time, giving insight into a wide-range of topics including the tragic history of Māori-Pakeha relations - while celebrating pioneers of biculturalism such as 'Pakeha-Maori' Jacky Marmon; the economic and political turmoil throughout the '60s and '70s; and fear of nuclear war in the '80s. A set of experimental texts published at the end of Private Bestiary shows Smithyman writing prose poems, concrete poems and completely abstract poems decades ahead of virtually every other Kiwi poet.

By the time he died in 1995, Smithyman had already published a dozen vol¬umes of poetry, a volume of literary and social criticism, and a score of other critical works. He was re¬nowned in literary circles for his voracious and catholic reading, his fascination with New Zealand history, his endless research trips to remote parts of the country, his wide circle of friends, and his love of conversation.

The editor Dr Scott Hamilton says: “These poems are taonga. They show us that Smithyman was a poet not just for the twentieth but for the twenty-first century. The rest of us are in some ways still trying to catch up with him.”

Associate Professor from the Department of English, Peter Simpson, who knew Smithyman as a friend and colleague and edited his Selected and Collected Poems, praises the new book for adding to our understanding of the poet. “Smithyman is the Walt Whitman of New Zealand,” Simpson says. “He contains multitudes, because his interests were so vast. In many ways he is a mountain we have yet to climb. I hope this book helps find him a new generation of readers, and delights established Smithymaniacs.”

Kendrick Smithyman worked as a Senior Tutor for the English Department 1966-1987 and was awarded an Honourary Doctorate by the University in 1986. His papers are presently held in The University of Auckland’s Special Collections.

Publisher details:
Titus Books
Po Box 102
Waimauku 0842
Auckland
titus@snap.net.nz
ph 09 420 4763