Bone People manuscript sale to aid M¯aori writers
The nephew of renowned New Zealand author Keri Hulme says her final wish was for the original manuscript of The Bone People to be sold at auction so the funds could help Ma¯ ori writers.
Matthew Salmons said this was one of the last talks she had with her wha¯ nau.
‘‘This was something that was discussed between her and my mum and my other aunty, Diane. The only reason it’s being sold at auction is it’s basically raising money to go towards a trust which will give out grants to Ma¯ ori authors.
‘‘I think Keri was over the moon to think her manuscript could support that in the future. As a family we’re very pleased to be able to see that,’’ Salmons said.
Dunbar Sloane estimated the price for the manuscript, which comes as two bound folders, will sit between $35,000 and $50,000 in its rare-books auction in August.
The award-winning author died last December at the age of 74 after enduring chronic health issues.
Her novel won the 1984 New Zealand Book Award for fiction, along with the Pegasus prize for Ma¯ ori literature.
The Bone People was the first debut novel to win the prestigious
Booker Prize in 1985 in Britain, making Hulme the first New Zealander to win the award.
Salmons said his Aunty Keri was stunned she received the accolade.
‘‘She’s pretty famous for saying ‘bloody hell’, which was a pretty big deal in this period. I think she was very pleased and honoured but I think a little bit surprised as well.
‘‘For a first-time novel from here in Aotearoa I guess probably [it] wouldn’t have been the expected thing. I think she was very honoured for her whole life to have been given praise to her work,’’ he said.
Initially, four publishers turned down the novel in its submitted form for different reasons, but it was eventually picked up in 1983 by the small Spiral Collective.
Salmons said he was pleased her work had helped influence other writers in the country.
‘‘It’s been really nice to see reactions from writers talking about her work and what has inspired them, giving them some ideas . . . it means something to them as part of their creative process,’’ Salmons said.
There has already been considerable interest in Dunbar Sloane’s auction of the manuscript, with two New Zealand institutes viewing it privately.
There have also been numerous inquiries from private collectors.
Salmons hoped the new owner of the manuscript would treasure it.
‘‘It is something very special to us as wha¯ nau. Obviously, the reason it’s being sold is to continue a legacy, something that would make Keri very happy.
‘‘I’m sure that whoever ends up buying it will see it as such, as a taonga, as something very special . . . It could be someone who has never read The Bone People before but gets to read it in a particularly special manner.’’ – RNZ