Events

28 May 2010

Uncovering a Secret Life: Writing the biography of Bill Pearson

Lecture

Bill Pearson’s novel "Coal Flat" was hailed as one of New Zealand’s greatest works of realist fiction. Yet the published book was nothing like the novel Pearson originally envisaged, which would have focused on the plight of an unjustly persecuted homosexual man.

This lecture discusses the process of uncovering the details of Pearson’s intensely private life, and the parallels that compelled Pearson to closet the protagonist of his novel, while also stalling his career as a writer.

Presented as a part of the University of Canterbury's Platform Arts Festival 2010, a dynamic 11 day extravaganza of art, lectures, theatre, music and film. For the full Platform Arts Festival programme visit www.canterbury.ac.nz/platform.