Frame’s writing sanctuary for sale
A New Zealand literary landmark is going on sale tomorrow.
The Palmerston North house where internationally renowned Kiwi author Janet Frame lived is on the market, and it could be yours for less than half a million dollars.
Frame, who died in January 2004, was best known for An Angel at My Table, a film based off her trilogy of autobiographies. But she also won countless awards for her novels, poetry and short stories.
The Palmerston North house in Dahlia St is believed to be where she wrote a number of short stories and poems and worked with historian Michael King on her biography during the 1990s.
Owners Hamish and Natalie Gibbons said living in a house one of the country’s best-known authors had owned and worked out of had been an extra special touch for them.
Born in the United States, Natalie admitted she had not heard of Frame before moving in.
‘‘We were interested in the house, purely for the house,’’ she said. But its back story fascinated her.
They bought the house and then Natalie got to work learning about Frame.
‘‘I did a bit of research and then went down to Bruce Mckenzie Books and bought all her books.’’
Those books now hold pride of place on the bookshelf in their living room and will one day be compulsory reading for their two children.
The property will be listed by Property Brokers real estate agent Raewyn Easton.