Ronald Hugh Morrieson

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New Zealand's most accomplished comic novelist, R. H. Morrieson lived out the constraints, contradictions, and exuberant excesses of the mid-century provincial society that he recreates in his four novels. Described by Maurice Shadbolt as “a bulky man with large enthusiasms”, Morrieson spent his days in genteel domesticity and his nights drinking, gambling, and jazzing in the dance halls and pubs around Hawera, on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island.

James Ronald Hugh Morrieson was born on 29 January 1922, the only child of Eunice Hyacinth (nee Johnson) and Hugh Francis Morrieson, both music teachers. When Morrieson was six his father died, and he lived with his doting and indulgent mother until her death in 1968. After stints of work at the Patea freezing works

2040 words

Citation: Lawn, Jennifer. "Ronald Hugh Morrieson". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 27 September 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3207, accessed 28 March 2024.]

3207 Ronald Hugh Morrieson 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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