Title: Coal Flat

Author: Bill Pearson

Publication details: Paul’s Book Arcade, 1963, Auckland

Digital publication kindly authorised by: Paul Millar

Part of: New Zealand Texts Collection

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Coal Flat

[backmatter]

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Bill Pearson was born at Greymouth in 1922 and spent his youth there. He attended the Dunedin Teachers’ College and studied both at Otago University and Canterbury University College. He taught at a West Coast school for a few months before joining the army in 1942.

He served first in New Zealand and Fiji, returned home and was posted to Egypt. His remaining service took him to Italy and Japan. After demobilization he returned to Canterbury College graduating M.A. and gaining a post-graduate scholarship. At King’s College, London, he received a doctorate for his work on the Catholic poets Coventry Patmore, G. M. Hopkins and Francis Thompson. He taught for nearly two years on ‘supply’ in London County Council schools, primary and secondary, secular and ecclesiastical.

In 1954 he joined the English Department at Auckland University College. He is now a senior lecturer. Three of his short stories were published in Paris and others in New Zealand. Two of them were listed in 1952 in the American collection Best Short Stories of 1951 as among the best ‘foreign’ stories of that year.

His analysis of New Zealand (pakeha) behaviour in ‘Fretful Sleepers’ and his essay ‘The Maori People’, both of which appeared in Landfall, are considerable contributions to New Zealand social description. The latter reflects his deep interest during recent years in the problems and welfare of Maoris. ‘Fretful Sleepers’ is an analysis of New Zealand character and behaviour of exceptional insight and acuteness.

Cover design by Colin McCahon