James k baxter biography for kids

New Zealand poet (1926–1972)

James Keir Baxter (29 June 1926 – 22 October 1972) was a New Zealand rhymer and playwright.

He was very known as an activist straighten out the preservation of Māori courtesy. He is one of Additional Zealand's most well-known and arguable literary figures. He was graceful prolific writer who produced legion poems, plays and articles stop in midsentence his short life, and was regarded as the preeminent man of letters of his generation.

He acceptable from alcoholism until the have a lot to do with 1950s. He converted to Christianity and established a controversial correspond at Jerusalem, New Zealand, live in 1969. He was married adopt writer Jacquie Sturm.

Early life

Baxter was born in Dunedin in the same way the second son to Archibald Baxter and Millicent Brown stall grew up near Brighton, 20 km south of Dunedin city.^[1][2] Sharptasting was named after James Keir Hardie, a founder of nobleness British Labour Party.^[1]

Baxter's father confidential been a conscientious objector fabric World War I, and both his parents were active pacifists and socialists.^[3] His mother esoteric studied Latin, French and Teutonic at the Presbyterian Ladies' School, Sydney, the University of Sydney and Newnham College, University look up to Cambridge.

Baxter and his relation were not baptised,^[1] although their mother read to them on occasion from the Bible.^[4]: 7 On cap first day of school distill Brighton Primary School (now Great Rock Primary School), Baxter destroyed his hand on a oilburning stove and later used this circumstance to represent the failure be in command of institutional education.^[1][5]

In 1936, when Baxter was ten, the family stiff to Wanganui where he station his brother attended St Artist Hill School, and the later year they moved to England and attended Sibford School induce the Cotswolds.^[1] Both schools were Quaker schools and boarding schools.^{[4]: 9–10} In 1938 the family joint to New Zealand.^[1] Baxter aforesaid of his early life divagate he felt a gap in the middle of himself and other people, "increased considerably by the fact make certain I was born in Pristine Zealand, and grew up near till I was nine, vital then attended an English accommodation school for a couple recognize years, and came back colloquium New Zealand at thirteen, clod the first flush of young adulthood, quite out of touch thug my childhood companions and delay whether I was an Englishman or a New Zealander".^[6]

Baxter began writing poetry at the do paperwork of seven, and he massed a large body of technically accomplished work both before limit during his teenage years.^[1]

In 1940, Baxter began attending King's Lofty School, Dunedin, where he was bullied, because of his differences to other students (in nature, voice and background), his scarcity of interest in team disports and his family's pacifism.^{[4]: 14–15} Her majesty older brother, Terence, was unadorned conscientious objector like their daddy and was detained in expeditionary camps between 1941 and 1945 for his refusal to battle in World War II.^[7] Mid 1942 and 1946, Baxter drafted around 600 poems, saying after in life that his autobiography as a teenager were distressful but "created a gap exterior which the poems were irremediable to grow".^[6][4]: 15

In 1943, Baxter's finishing year of high school, without fear wrote to a friend defer he was considering becoming clean up lawyer, but was "not firm on it": "If I obligation find it possible to accommodation by writing I would by choice do so.

Yet many joe public have thought they could, suffer found it an illusion."^[4]: 17

Life stomach career

Early literary career

In March 1944, at age seventeen, Baxter registered at the University of Otago.^[4]: 18 That same year, he publicised his first collection of meaning, Beyond the Palisade,^[2] to still critical acclaim.

Allen Curnow choice six poems from the grade for 1945 collection A Precise of New Zealand Verse 1923–1945, and described Baxter's poems importation "a new occurrence in Newfound Zealand: strong in impulse become more intense confident in invention, with gormandize of youth in verse which we have lacked".^[8] In that year, Baxter also won integrity Macmillan Brown Prize for potentate poem "Convoys".

The prize was coincidentally named after his Scots maternal grandfather, John Macmillan Brown.^[9]

Baxter's work during this time was, as with his contemporary compatriots, most notably the experimental penny-a-liner Janet Frame, largely influenced overstep the modernist works of Vocaliser Thomas. He was a 1 of the so-called "Wellington Group" of writers that also charade Louis Johnson, W.H.

Oliver gain Alistair Te Ariki Campbell. Baxter typically wrote short lyrical poesy or cycles of the come to rather than longer poems.

After his eighteenth birthday on 29 June 1944, like his holy man and brother, Baxter registered gorilla a conscientious objector, citing "religious and humanitarian" grounds.

The regime did not pursue him but due to the late concentration of the war.^[4]: 20

Baxter failed journey complete his course work disagree with the University of Otago franchise to increasing alcoholism, and was forced to take a span of odd jobs from 1945–7.^[1][2] He fictionalised these experiences surround his only novel Horse, obtainable posthumously in 1985.^[1] It was during this time that perform had his first significant arrogance, with a young medical votary, but the relationship ended permission to his alcoholism.^[5] He wrote the collection of poems Cold Spring about this early abortive relationship, but it was mass published until after his demise in 1996.^[4]: 24 In 1947 appease met Jacquie Sturm, a prepubescent Māori student, who would adjacent become his wife.^[1]

In late 1947, Baxter moved to Christchurch vicinity he continued working odd jobs.^[1] Although he did not join at the University of Town he became the literary editorial writer of its student magazine, Canta, and attended some lectures.^[4]: 35 Circlet behaviour could be erratic privilege to his alcoholism.^[5] His beyond collection, Blow, Wind of Fruitfulness was published in 1948, unacceptable its themes included the Spanking Zealand landscape and solitude.

Curnow, in a review, described Baxter as "the most original designate New Zealand poets now living".^[10]

Marriage and later career

In 1948 Baxter married Jacquie Sturm at Familiarize John's Cathedral, Napier, and top developing interest in Christianity culminated in his joining the Protestant church and being baptised over that same year.^[1] They played to Wellington and in Feb 1951 Baxter enrolled at Statesman Teachers' College.^[1] In 1952 Baxter's poems were published in simple collaborative volume, Poems Unpleasant, correspondent poems from Louis Johnson dispatch Anton Vogt.^[11] He completed consummate teaching course in December 1952, and subsequently published his position major collection of poems, The Fallen House.^[1][12] In 1954 proceed was appointed assistant master stroke Epuni School, Lower Hutt, lecturer it was here that pacify wrote a series of novice poems published later as The Tree House, and Other Rhyming for Children (1974).^[1][13]

Baxter and queen wife had a daughter, Hilary, in 1949, and a incongruity, John, in 1952.^[3]

In late 1954, Baxter joined Alcoholics Anonymous, favourably achieving sobriety, and in 1955, he finally graduated with cool Bachelor of Arts from Empress University College.^[1] He had very received a substantial inheritance flight a great-aunt in 1955 ground was able to purchase top-hole house for the family pop into Ngaio, Wellington.^[5][4]: 45 He left Epuni School early in 1956 command somebody to write and edit primary high school bulletins for the Department personage Education's School Publications Branch.

That period is likely to own acquire influenced his later writing which criticised bureaucracy.^[1]

In 1957 Baxter took a course in Roman Catholicity and his collection of rhyme In Fires of No Return, published in 1958 by Metropolis University Press, was influenced unhelpful his new faith. This was his first work to affront published internationally, though it was not critically well-received.^[14] Through primacy late 50s and 60s Baxter visited the Southern Star Religious house, a Cistercian monastery at Kopua near Central Hawke's Bay.^[15] Baxter admitted however in a report to a friend that consummate conversion was "just one go into detail event in a series conjure injuries, alcoholism, and gross mistakes".^[4]: 51

Baxter and Sturm separated in Oct 1957.^[1] While it has antediluvian reported that their separation was due to Baxter's wife, clean up committed Anglican, having been aghast by his conversion to Catholicism,^[1] their great-grandson Jack McDonald has stated that it was increase by two fact “a loss of local holiday, which was only in tribe a result of his clandestinely taking instruction as a Catholic.”^[16]

Later in 1958, Baxter received uncomplicated UNESCO stipend to study helpful publishing and began an extensive journey through Asia, and specially India, where Rabindranath Tagore's sanitarium Shantiniketan was one of rendering inspirations for Baxter's later territory at Jerusalem, New Zealand.

Hill India he was reconciled copy his wife and contracted dysentery.^[1] His writing after returning get round India was more overtly massive of New Zealand society, plain in the collection Howrah Interrupt and Other Poems (1961).^[1] Perform was particularly concerned about depiction displacement of Māori within glory country.^[17]

In the late 1950s station 1960s Baxter became a full and prolific writer of both poems and drama, and go with was through his 1958 portable radio play Jack Winter's Dream stray he became internationally known.^[1] Blue blood the gentry play was produced by righteousness New Zealand Broadcasting Service good spirits radio,^[4]: 53 and in 1978 was adapted for the screen toddler New Zealand filmmaker David Sims.^[18]

The first half of the Sixties also saw, however, Baxter frantic to make ends meet put the accent on a postman's wage, having acquiescent from the Department of Raising in 1963 and refused acquaintance take work as a schoolmaster.^{[1][4]: 64–65} He also controversially criticised The Penguin Book of New Sjaelland Verse, an anthology published by virtue of his former champion Allen Curnow, for under-representing younger New Sjaelland poets.^[1][4]: 55 However, in 1966 Baxter's critically acclaimed collection of rhyme Pig Island Letters was publicised in which his writing institute a new level of clarity.^[1][3] In 1966, Baxter took respite the Robert Burns Fellowship turn-up for the books the University of Otago, which eased the money worries replace a time.^[1] He held justness fellowship for two years close to which time he participated take on protests against the Vietnam War.^[1] During the fellowship he as well had a number of potentate plays staged at the Nature Theatre by Dunedin director Patric Carey.^[19]

Jerusalem

In 1968 Baxter claimed impossible to differentiate a letter to his playmate John Weir that he confidential been instructed in a verve to "Go to Jerusalem".^[17]Jerusalem, Spanking Zealand was a small Māori settlement (known by its Māori transliteration, Hiruhārama) on the Wanganui River.

He left his hospital position and a job arrangement catechetical material for the Wide Education Board, with nothing on the contrary a bible. This was dignity culmination of a short term in which he struggled make sense family life and his career as a poet.^[1]

While planning tiara move to Jerusalem, in inappropriate 1969, Baxter spent some over and over again in Grafton, Auckland where crystalclear set up a drop-in focal point for drug addicts, acting go under the surface the same principles as Alcoholics Anonymous.^[1] Around this time, Baxter worked for three weeks variety a cleaner at Chelsea Embroider Refinery, which inspired the ode Ballad of the Stonegut Agreeable Works.^[4]: 91 He had been referred to the job by bard Hone Tuwhare.^[20] He also adoptive the Māori version of sovereign name, Hemi.^[1]

Around July or Sedate 1969, Baxter travelled to Jerusalem, which according to John Weir was at that time "a tiny Māori settlement – nonviolent had a marae, a local priest, a church, a priory, resident nuns and some left alone dwellings."^{[4]: 93–94} Baxter stayed in unembellished cottage owned by the Sisters of Compassion, and obtained sayso for a long stay liberate yourself from the mother general of primacy sisters.^[4]: 94 He proceeded to arrangement a commune structured around "spiritual aspects of Māori communal life".^[1] It was a place he felt he could typify both his Catholic faith turf his interest in Māori culture.^[17] He lived a sparse extort isolated existence and made universal trips to the nearby cities where he worked with say publicly poor and spoke out conflicting what he perceived as systematic social order that sanctions shortage.

His poems of this revolt, published in his final collections Jerusalem Sonnets (1970) and Autumn Testament (1972), have a ormal style but speak strongly work at his social and political convictions.^[1]

The commune's popularity grew, in hint due to an article mission the Sunday Times newspaper wealthy June 1970, and by mid-1970 around 25 people were exact in the community.^[4]: 107 The soil increased to 40 permanent people by May 1971, mostly express between 16 and 25, keep in three abandoned houses, see the number of visitors was estimated by Baxter at pine a thousand over the year.^[4]: 110 The five goals Baxter devised for the commune were: "To share one's goods; To write the truth, not hiding one's heart from others; To cherish one another and show rolling in money by the embrace; To extort no job where one has to lick the boss's arse; To learn from the Oceanic side of the fence".^[4]: 109 Agreed was, however, reluctant to conscript any kind of rules be repentant work roster.^[4]: 111

The increased numbers bequest residents and visitors, and loftiness lack of order and blending, led to growing concern free yourself of the Sisters of Compassion add-on Wanganui District Council, and resistance from local residents, particularly primacy local Māori iwi, Ngāti Hau.^{[1][17][4]: 111} Baxter himself was often gone from the commune participating implement protests or other social work.^[4]: 111 In September 1971, the ask advice of was disbanded under pressure vary the Council and local farmers.^[17] Baxter returned to live advocate Wellington, but in February 1972 was permitted to return make a victim of Jerusalem provided that only 10 people would be allowed deal live on the land unbendable any one time.^[1][17]

Final years current death

The harsh deprivations Baxter adoptive at this time took their toll on his health.

By virtue of 1972 he was too confined to bed to continue living at Jerusalem and moved to another share near Auckland. On 16 Oct Baxter visited his long-time contributor the artist Michael Illingworth near wrote his last poem system the Illingworth’s dining room board before leaving on the 19th.^[21] Three days later on 22 October 1972 Baxter suffered systematic coronary thrombosis in the high road and died in a close by house, aged 46.^[1] He was buried at Jerusalem on Māori land in front of "the Top House" where he challenging lived, in a ceremony combine Māori and Catholic traditions.^[1] Efficient river boulder on the cremation site was inscribed with rule Māori name Hemi.^[4]: 122

Sturm was Baxter's literary executor after his swallow up.

She collected and catalogued cap prolific writing, arranged new add-on revised publications of his be anxious, and negotiated the use streak adaptation of his works.^[22] She set up the James Juvenile. Baxter Charitable Trust, which slim causes he had supported, leverage example prison reform and painkiller addiction rehabilitation programmes, and clinched that all proceeds of fillet work went to the trust.^{[23][24]: 9}

Evidence and allegations of sexual assault

In January 2019, the Victoria Doctrine Press published a collection endorsement Baxter's personal letters as James K Baxter: Letters of well-organized Poet.^[25] The collection was avoid by his friend, John Weir.

One letter in the piece revealed that in 1960, Baxter confided to another woman ramble he raped his wife, Jacquie Sturm, after she expressed contact interest in sex. New Zealanders reacted with dismay to decency revelations, describing them as "awful", "terrible" and "shocking".^[26] In The SpinoffJohn Newton wrote that inner parts is no longer possible like talk about Baxter without addressing how Baxter thinks and writes about women.^[27]

Paul Millar, a Baxter scholar and personal friend be in possession of Sturm, who had been prescribed as her literary executor care her death, cautioned against interpret the letter as turning Sturm into a victim: "Leaving spontaneous how appalling this letter appreciation – a betrayal on deadpan many levels from the vindictive act described, the lack take in shame in the description, skull the profound betrayal of place – its publicity is once upon a time again putting Jacquie in shipshape and bristol fashion subordinate position to Baxter, far-out bit player in his portrayal.

... Jacquie deserves much extend than to be remembered gorilla Baxter’s victim ... despite nevertheless she endured, she emerged champion. If people really want break down know Jacquie they should go our her writing, not Baxter's."^[26]Mark Williams, emeritus Professor of Uprightly at Victoria University, said ethics admission was consistent with what he knew of Baxter: "He observed his own adulteries dispassionately as part of the loose human condition.

This even stretched to marital rape. I’m crowd sure if he was modestly a phoney, as some own acquire observed. He was genuinely holy. The problem is that climax religious faith allowed him promote to regard his sexual failings—small extort great—at a quizzical remove."^[27]

Baxter come to rest Sturm's great-grandson, Jack McDonald, wrote that the account was "sickening" and that he believed dominion great-grandmother "would never have necessary these brutal details made public".

He also noted that she never received sufficient credit rationalize connecting Baxter to the Māori world: "The reality is focus Nana had introduced Baxter come up to everything he knew about Māoritanga".^[16]

An allegation of attempted rape followed when, in April 2019, primacy New Zealand news outlet Stuff published an account by Rosalind Lewis (Ros), who had antediluvian at the Jerusalem commune take back 1970 when she was express 18 years.

Ros described come "attempted rape", which would conspiracy succeeded were it not support Baxter's erectile dysfunction. She count a friend of hers, "Angela", who had told Ros ramble she was permitted to examine him flagellate himself (a number of religious penance), and ensure she, Angela, knew of a handful of other women who she claims were sexually abused.

No rate were pressed at the relating to by the women. Lewis said: "This truth needs to irk alongside Baxter's literary achievements. Rush must be fully acknowledged extra never glossed over.

This is for the behalf of women such as man and for those who hawthorn not be able to happen a voice as I possess. As ever, in celebrating rank genius of Baxter the chief, we cannot overlook the evils of Baxter the human being."^[28]

Critical reception and legacy

Criticism of Baxter's poetry has generally focussed haul up his incorporation of European wisdom into his New Zealand poesy, his interest in Māori courtesy and language, and the substance of his religious experiences careful conversion to Roman Catholicism.^[29] In mint condition Zealand poet laureateVincent O'Sullivan wrote in 1976 that Baxter commission an inherently New Zealand poet: "that is the proportion boss Baxter's achievement – the overbearing complete delineation yet of swell New Zealand mind.

The musical record of its shaping evenhanded as original an act trade in anything we have."^[30] A general theme in Baxter's extensive intent of writing was strong appraisal of New Zealand society. Coronate biographer Paul Millar said: "If, at times, Baxter appears chitchat evaluate New Zealand society raspingly, his judgements are always distance from the perspective of one closely involved in the social process."^[1]

Baxter's use of te reo Māori has inspired both praise near criticism.

W.H. Oliver described stir as "often a cosmetic infuriate, or worse, an earnest affectation".^[31]: 13 By contrast, John Newton distinguished that at least some Māori welcomed Baxter's engagement with their language and culture,^[31]: 14 and Bathroom Weir regards his use bit "a genuine attempt at benefit a bicultural language in that country when no other Pākehā was doing so".^[4]: 146

In his disparaging study Lives of the Poets, Michael Schmidt claimed that Baxter was "one of the nearly precocious poets of the century" whose neglect outside of Creative Zealand is baffling.^[32]: 835 In Schmidt's view, Baxter's writing was pick by his alcoholism.

Schmidt very commented on Baxter's influences, note that his work drew gaze at Dylan Thomas and W. Ticklish. Yeats; then on Louis MacNeice and Robert Lowell. Michael Solon identified "an amalgam of Biochemist, Thomas and native atavisms" difficulty Baxter's Prelude N.Z..^[32]: 836

The critic Comedian Seymour-Smith ranked Baxter above Parliamentarian Lowell ("Baxter knew all look at narcissism and vanity, and interest a much superior poet"), service defended Baxter's high reputation questionable the grounds of his priestly and intellectual seeking: "Baxter's capacity and sheer intelligence, his option to give way to mode cerebral impulses or to look into up his terrible struggle become accustomed himself, are sufficient to defend his high position in Additional Zealand poetry".

On the carefulness hand, Smith said that Baxter "remained, disappointingly, over-intoxicated with monarch own energy, and never convincingly manifested qualities of restraint roughly balance it."^[33]

A number of Baxter's poems were written in probity ballad form, and Baxter has been described by critics chimpanzee "New Zealand's principal lyricist".^[3] Spick number of Baxter's works control since been translated into opus by New Zealand musicians.^[3] Wear 2000, a collection of songs written to Baxter's poems was released, titled Baxter, and featuring some of New Zealand's chief well-known musicians: for example Dave Dobbyn, Martin Phillipps, Emma Paki, Greg Johnson, David Downes current Mahinārangi Tocker.^[34] It was devised by New Zealand singer-songwriter City Yates.^[35]

Selected works

References

External links