Abstract:
Volume One of this thesis discusses New Zealand verse and fiction contributed to the Sydney Bulletin between 1880 and 1930, as well as commentary about New Zealand writing during this period in the form of reviews and articles: a large, little-explored archive of more than 4000 items. It is divided into two Parts, each consisting of ten chapters, based on the two main editorial divisions between 1880 and 1930: the first (1880-1906), when the two main literary editors were J.F. Archibald, then A.G. Stephens; the second (1907-1926) when the main editors were two New Zealanders, A.H. Adams, and later David McKee Wright. The order of chapters in each Part follows the basic structure of presenting statistics, then discussing editorial and other commentary on New Zealand literature, and finally exploring the work of major contributors in individual chapters. These include Constance Clyde, G.B. Lancaster (Edith Lyttleton), Frank Morton, Will Lawson, A.H. Adams, C.A. Jeffries and David McKee Wright. Others discussed in some detail include, from the 1890s, Leo de Bakker, Arthur Desmond, Hubert Church, J.S. Evison and Frederick Rollett, and from the 1910s and 1920s, Bartlett Adamson, Dulcie Deamer and Betty Riddell. The thesis concludes with a Postscript on the period 1930-1960, with particular reference to the influential editorial role of the New Zealander Douglas Stewart from 1940 until 1960, the year in which the Bulletin was bought by the Australian Consolidated Press and its character changed. Volume Two of the thesis is an Index to all literary contributions by and about New Zealand writers in the Bulletin for the period 1880-1950. It contains almost 6000 items, including some 4200 verse contributions, 700 short stories, and approximately 1000 reviews and articles. A period-by-period statistical analysis is provided at the end.
