Sylvia Ashton-Warner

Erin Mercer (Massey University)

Ed. by John C. Ross, Massey University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 9.1.2: New Zealand Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Doreen D'Cruz (Massey University), Jennifer Lawn (Massey University), John C. Ross (Massey University), Mark Williams (Victoria University of Wellington)

Dates

Born 17 Dec 1908
Died 28 Apr 1984
Activity 1928-1984

Places

Born in New Zealand
Active in New Zealand

Activities

Primary

Novelist

Resources

Ashton-Warner's Works

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Sylvia Ashton-Warner is one of New Zealand’s most internationally successful authors. Two of her novels --

Spinster

(1958) and

Incense to Idols

(1960) – featured on

Time

magazine’s best books list, with the former proving so popular internationally that a Hollywood film version was made starring Shirley MacLaine. The

Saturday Review

deemed

Spinster

the herald of a “fresh voice” capable of provoking in readers “an exhilarating sense of personal discovery” (Wilson Ross 32), while the

Commonweal

described

Incense to Idols

as “truly memorable” (Cosman 294), praising its convincing characterisation and notable technical achievements. The

New York Times Book Review’

s reviewer was similarly complimentary, referring to “the romantic heart, robust spirit and compelling…

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2152 words

Citation: Mercer, Erin. "Sylvia Ashton-Warner". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 May 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=165, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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