John Alexander Lee

James Smithies (University of Canterbury)

Ed. by Mark Williams, Victoria University of Wellington
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 31 Oct 1891
Died 13 Jun 1982
Activity 1917-1987

Places

Born in New Zealand
Active in New Zealand

Activities

Primary

Novelist
Pamphleteer

Resources

Lee's Works

Save to Bookshelf

P>John Albert Alexander was one of the most striking figures of twentieth century New Zealand. Swagman, socialist, war hero, orator, pamphleteer, Member of Parliament and author of several novels, he frequently found himself on the wrong side of a narrow and conformist culture and was both reviled and celebrated during his lifetime.

Although recent research by Annabelle Cooper suggests that Lee overstated his poverty stricken childhood, there can be little doubt that he was born into a struggling household; a situation worsened considerably through his grandmother’s problems with alcohol (perhaps understandably, Lee later refused to drink his entire adult life). After attending primary school, he worked in factories and on farms before being sent to borstal in 1906 for theft. Several

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916 words

Citation: Smithies, James. "John Alexander Lee". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 August 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2670, accessed 24 November 2024.]