Author
Keri Hulme
Birth Date
March 9, 1947
(74 Years)
Death Date
December 27, 2021
Associated Country
New Zealand
Keri Hulme (born March 9, 1947, in Christchurch, New Zealand) is a New Zealand author, best known for her award-winning novel The Bone People (1984). Hulme's writing blends elements of mythology, indigenous culture, and the complexities of human relationships. Her distinctive voice in literature has earned her a place as one of New Zealand's most prominent writers.
The Bone People won the Booker Prize in 1985, making Hulme the first New Zealand author to receive this prestigious award. The novel is a deeply symbolic and experimental work that combines prose and poetry to tell the story of a woman named Kerewin, who lives a solitary life in a coastal town, and her complex interactions with two other characters, a mute boy named Simon and his violent, alcoholic father, Joe. The novel explores themes of isolation, belonging, and the clash of cultures.
Though The Bone People remains her most famous work, Hulme has published other stories, poems, and novels. Her work often draws on Māori culture and mythology, reflecting her deep connection to her New Zealand heritage. In addition to her writing, Hulme has been involved in various creative projects, including working with the Māori community and contributing to the arts in New Zealand.
The Bone People won the Booker Prize in 1985, making Hulme the first New Zealand author to receive this prestigious award. The novel is a deeply symbolic and experimental work that combines prose and poetry to tell the story of a woman named Kerewin, who lives a solitary life in a coastal town, and her complex interactions with two other characters, a mute boy named Simon and his violent, alcoholic father, Joe. The novel explores themes of isolation, belonging, and the clash of cultures.
Though The Bone People remains her most famous work, Hulme has published other stories, poems, and novels. Her work often draws on Māori culture and mythology, reflecting her deep connection to her New Zealand heritage. In addition to her writing, Hulme has been involved in various creative projects, including working with the Māori community and contributing to the arts in New Zealand.
Books
Lost Possessions 2023
They have left me. The door is locked. The room is entirely bare. . . . Lost Possessions, a novella, was published in 1985, shortly before The Bone People won the Booker Prize.
Te Kaihau 2023
Te Kaihau The Windeater was launched at the inaugural New Zealand Arts Festival Writers and Readers Week in March 1986, four months after The Bone People won the 1985 Booker Prize. These 20 stories...
The Bone People 1986
In a tower on the New Zealand sea lives Kerewin Holmes: part Maori, part European, asexual and aromantic, an artist estranged from her art, a woman in exile from her family.
One night her solitude is...