Discover the profound and intimate world of James Courage in this captivating collection of diaries. Edited by Chris Brickell, this brand new paperback edition features 416 pages filled with the reflections of one of New Zealand's most significant authors. Born in Christchurch in 1903, James Courage explored his identity and experiences during a time when homosexuality was not widely accepted. His diaries reveal his thoughts on life, love, and the quest for personal freedom, offering a glimpse into the bohemian life of early 20th century Britain. With dimensions of 148 x 210 mm, this compelling book is perfect for readers interested in LGBTQ+ literature, New Zealand's literary history, and the artistic struggles of a candid writer. The vivid and poignant prose transports you from New Zealand to the bustling streets of London, where Courage mingled with the literary elite and navigated the complexities of identity and desire. A must-have for literature enthusiasts and those seeking a deeper understanding of the gay experience in a historical context, this edition is not just a personal narrative; it is a reflection on the human spirit. Published by Otago University Press on June 4, 2021, this collection invites readers to celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of James Courage. Immerse yourself in a narrative that is rich with emotion, intellect, and the vibrant sights and sounds of its time. Order now for prompt delivery, ensuring you won’t miss out on experiencing these powerful reflections.

CONDITION: Brand New
Dimensions: 148 x 210 mm
Pages: 416
Bind: paperback
Author: Edited by Chris Brickell Publisher: Otago University Press
Publication Date: 04-06-2021

This blacked-out, bourgeois, boarding-house life – God in Heaven, how I really loathe it! The smell of evening cooking in the passages, the businessmen’s faces, the church clock chiming the polite quarters down the street – the whole couchemar d’une incessante mise en scčne. Pfui! Am I alive or dead? What I want is to get drunk, to lie in the hot and generous sun, to sleep with wild boys – yes, that is more like it. – James Courage, Diary, 24 Jan 1941. New Zealand author James Courage was born in Christchurch in 1903, and he became aware of his homosexuality during his adolescent years. He moved to London in 1927 and began writing novels, plays, poems and short stories. He was much more sexually open than most of his homosexual writer contemporaries – Frank Sargeson, Eric McCormick, Charles Brasch and Bill Pearson. A Way of Love, published in 1959, was the first gay novel written by a New Zealander, and some of his other seven novels (including Fires in the Distance and The Call Home) contain queer characters. Between 1920 and 1963, Courage confided his innermost thoughts to a private diary. He wrote about leaving New Zealand, the men he met in London’s streets, and forging friendships in the literary scene. He was an evocative chronicler of landscapes and indoor settings: life on long ocean voyages, air raid shelters during the war, and the psychiatrist’s clinic at a time when society was deeply ambivalent about homosexuality. Courag