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Bill Manhire: A Poetic Exploration of Language, Identity, and the New Zealand Landscape

David Mitchell

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Published in Wow Bill Manhire

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Wow

by Bill Manhire

5 out of 5

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Bill Manhire is one of New Zealand's most celebrated and influential poets. His work is characterized by its linguistic dexterity, its exploration of identity, and its deep engagement with the New Zealand landscape. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Manhire's career, from his early influences to his most recent work.

Early Life and Influences

Bill Manhire was born in Gore, New Zealand, in 1946. He grew up in a small town in the South Island, and his early experiences with the natural world left a lasting impression on his poetry. He began writing poetry as a teenager, and his early influences included the work of James K. Baxter, Allen Curnow, and Sylvia Plath.

Early Poetry

Manhire's first collection of poetry, Second Nature, was published in 1973. This collection established Manhire as a major voice in New Zealand poetry, and it won the Jessie Mackay Award for Best First Book of Poetry. Manhire's early poetry is characterized by its use of language, its exploration of personal identity, and its deep engagement with the New Zealand landscape.

Later Poetry

Manhire has continued to publish poetry throughout his career, and his work has evolved over time. His later poetry is more experimental in form and language, and it often explores themes of loss, grief, and mortality. However, his deep engagement with the New Zealand landscape remains a constant throughout his work.

Critical Reception

Bill Manhire is one of the most critically acclaimed poets in New Zealand. His work has won numerous awards, including the New Zealand Book Award for Poetry four times. He has also been awarded the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature.

Bibliography

Second Nature (1973)
Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down (1979)
Good Looks (1982)
Milking the Stars (1989)
The Body (1994)
My Sunshine (2000)
Selected Poems (2005)
Lifted (2013)
The Long Gaze Back (2018)

Bill Manhire is one of the most important poets writing in New Zealand today. His work is characterized by its linguistic dexterity, its exploration of identity, and its deep engagement with the New Zealand landscape. Manhire is a master of language, and his poems are full of insight and beauty. He is a poet who deserves to be read and enjoyed by readers all over the world.

Wow

by Bill Manhire

5 out of 5