New study of Maurice Gee’s fiction for young readers

Maurice Gee: A literary companion: The fiction for young readers is the first full-scale study of Maurice Gee’s novels for young readers.

‘The body of work Maurice Gee has produced for young readers is distinctive and valuable, and offers access to the creations of an extremely thoughtful writer,’ says editor Elizabeth Hale. ‘A scholarly tribute to his writing for a younger audience is long overdue.’

Gee’s children’s books remain popular and in print. Several of his books are studied in the national secondary-school curriculum.

Maurice Gee: A literary companion: The fiction for young readers looks closely at Gee’s 13 books for children, exploring the motivations, themes, contexts and reception of Gee’s work, from the fantasy novels Under the Mountain, The World Around the Corner and the O and Salt trilogies, to the five realist and historical novels, including The Fat Man, The Champion and The Fire-Raiser.

Gee has made a major contribution to the quality and range of literature available for teenagers and children. His books are notable for their evocative settings, compelling plots and thematic richness – engaging in serious issues at the same time as they tell exciting, interesting stories.

Maurice Gee: A literary companion is an engaging literary investigation that gives a detailed, full appreciation of Gee’s fantasy and historical novels. This collection of essays will be an invaluable resource for students, teachers, readers and writers of New Zealand literature, children’s literature and fantasy literature.

A second book, by Lawrence Jones, to be published in 2016, will discuss Gee’s fiction for adult readers.

Elizabeth Hale is Senior Lecturer in English and Writing at the University of New England, in Armidale, Australia, where she teaches children’s literature, media and creative writing. With Sarah Winters, she is co-editor of Marvellous Codes: The fiction of Margaret Mahy (Victoria University Press, 2005). Elizabeth grew up in New Zealand, and studied English and Latin at the University of Otago before moving to the United States to pursue her PhD in English Literature.

Maurice Gee A Literary Companion: The Fiction for Young Readers ed. Elizabeth Hale -  Otago University Press ISBN 978-1-877578-84-7, $35