Truth & lies
Is Maurice Shadbolt one of NZ's top three writers or a flawed author and unlikable philander? His biographer Philip Temple invites us to go on that fascinating exploration with him, writes Bruce Munro.
Entertainment
A certain type of personality
A certain type of personality
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is used by firms worldwide to test their employees. In her new book, Merve Emre looks at the system's curious origins, Tim Lewis, of The Observer, reports.
Which prisoner's prose is best? You get to decide
Which Otago prisoner's prose is best? You get to decide
Otago Corrections Facility prisoners have spent the last six weeks flexing their creative muscles. Now we need your help to crown a people's choice winner.
'It's changed my life' - 'Wonky Donkey' author
'It's changed my life' - 'Wonky Donkey' author
Wonky Donkey is coming to life on the stage, and its viral resurgence has turned the life of Queenstown author Craig Smith upside down.
For the public good
For the public good
In recent years, tasks previously carried out by government have been handed over to the market. Has it worked? In a new book, Government for the Public Good: The Surprising Science of Large-Scale...
Reader taken for a lively ride
Reader taken for a lively ride
Jim Sullivan reviews Denis Dwyer's New Zealand Adventures By Rail. Published by New Holland.
Burns relates experience of progressive rock from inside
Burns relates experience of progressive rock from inside
Darryl Baser reviews Experiencing Progressive Rock by Robert Burns. Published by Rowman and Littlefield.
Crime-writing professor wins prize at festival
Crime-writing professor wins prize at festival
A Dunedin author has carried on his father’s crime-writing legacy by winning an international award named after him.
Big names to film The Luminaries in NZ
Big names to film The Luminaries in NZ
Some big names from the silver screen have been revealed for the BBC adaptation of Eleanor Catton's award-winning novel The Luminaries, set largely in goldrush Hokitika.
Children's tale of flighty chooks
Children's tale of flighty chooks out now
Wayward hens inspired a Taieri woman to pick up her pen.
Success written on their faces
Success written on their faces
Dunedin-born surgeon Archibald McIndoe's pioneering work in plastic surgery retains its importance today, English writer and academic Emily Mayhew tells Mike Houlahan.
Going viral
Going viral
Coincidences will cause the next monster influenza epidemic, for which we are woefully unprepared, former Otago researcher Prof Robert Webster tells Bruce Munro.
Jack Reacher author to visit Dunedin
Jack Reacher author Lee Child to visit Dunedin
Best-selling thriller writer Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher novels, will visit Dunedin later this year.
Celebrating the Burns fellowship
Celebrating the Burns fellowship
This year's the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the prestigious Robert Burns Fellowship at the University of Otago. Former Burns fellows remember their time.
Takes the mind on journeys into the mountains
Takes the mind on journeys into the mountains
Phillip Somerville reviews To The Mountains: A Collection of New Zealand Alpine Writing, selected by Laurence Fearnley and Paul Hersey, published by Otago University Press.
Debut novel compelling 'thinking person's thriller'
Debut novel compelling 'thinking person's thriller'
Bruce Munro reviews Eye of the Songbird by Michael Munro. Published by Tita Publishing.
Incredible journey from unhappy schooldays to life of arts
Incredible journey from unhappy schooldays to life of arts
Peter Stupples reviews, Tony Williams: Goldsmith, by Tony Williams, published by Potton & Burton.
Helping minorities find a voice
Helping minorities find a voice
Sweatshop is giving culturally and linguistically diverse emerging writers from Western Sydney a voice. Ahead of their trip to Dunedin, Winnie Dunn and Shirley Le tell Rebecca Fox about their journeys.
Life, landscapes explored in ‘View from the South’
Life, landscapes explored in ‘View from the South’
Southern life and landscapes are explored in a new book of poetry and photographs by poet and novelist Owen Marshall and artistphotographer Grahame Sydney.
Poetry roundup
Poetry roundup
Hamesh Wyatt reviews recently published books of poetry.