Peter Simpson writes exclusively for the Spinoff about his new, much talked-about book on the all-painting, all-chattering intelligentsia of Christchurch in the 1930s. In 1938 the musician Fred Page returned to Christchurch from studying at the Royal College of Music in London. On his first day back he ran into his friend the poet Allen … Read more
Auckland author Peter Simpson chooses six books by New Zealand authors, including one of the favourites to win the 2016 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards prize for best novel. Last year as one of five judges of the final New Zealand Post Book Awards I read virtually every local book published. I can’t recall precisely … Read more
The novel that won this year’s Man Booker Prize runs 688 pages. Peter Simpson gets stuck in. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James There is a scene in Marlon James’ vast, grim, dark, compelling, and (now) Man Booker prize winning novel, that threw me back more than 40 years to my only first-hand … Read more