James Francis Courage (9 February 1903–5 October 1963) was a New Zealand novelist, short-story writer, poet and bookseller. He was born in Ōtautahi/Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9 February 1903. [1]
James Courage | |
---|---|
Born | Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 February 1903
Died | 5 October 1963 London, England | (aged 60)
Resting place | Waipara River, New Zealand |
Occupation | Writer |
Genre | Novels, Short Stories, Plays |
Courage was born to Frank Hubert Courage and Zoë Frances Peache. He grew up near Kōwai/Amberley, New Zealand on a farm. [1]
He attended Christ's College from 1916-1921. It was during his time there that he started writing. He later carried out his tertiary studies at St John's College, University of Oxford in 1923. [1]
In 1927, Courage relocated to London. [2] He briefly worked as a journalist, served as a Fire Warden during World War II, and worked in a bookshop between 1940 and 1950. He was made the store manager in 1946. [3]
Courage was a prominent writer. His rural New Zealand upbringing served as a setting for five of his eight novels. [1] Some of his works were subject to censorship at the time of publication due to their depictions of romantic relationships between men. In particular, his novel A way of love (1959) was banned in New Zealand at the time due to its homosexual content. [1]
Courage was a recipient of the Hubert Church Memorial Prize. [4] He was also the inspiration for P.E.N's 'Courage Day' which raised awareness to the persecution of writers. [5]
Novels [1]
Short Stories [1]
Plays [1]
Much of Courage's life was documented in a series of diaries dated from 1920-1963. [6] He wrote about his relationships as well as his experiences during the World War II bombings of London. [7] In discussing his motivations, Courage told his diary: "Why do I go on writing? One reason is that I believe I’ve written about people in Canterbury as it has never been done before – just as Turgenev wrote about certain people in Russian provincial society as it had not been done before." [8]
Courage lived in England for most of his life, though had a 17 month stint in New Zealand following a tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in Norfolk from 1931-1933. [9] He was also known to suffer from depression, and received treatment at various points in his life. [1]
Courage was gay, and recorded his relationships with various men in his diaries. He noted one particular relationship with a man named Frank, who he briefly lived with in Argentina. [7] He also maintained friendships with other prominent New Zealand writers such as Frank Sargeson and D'Arcy Cresswell. [3]
Courage died in Hampstead on 5 October 1963. He requested to have his ashes scattered on the Waipara River in New Zealand, near where he grew up. [1]