Janet Frame Books

Featuring 28 short stories, this collection showcases the finest works of Frame's career, with many pieces appearing for the first time. It highlights her unique storytelling ability, offering readers a fresh glimpse into her literary evolution. The stories capture a range of themes and emotions, reflecting her distinctive voice and perspective. This anthology serves as a significant addition to her body of work, celebrating her contributions to literature.

A selection of Janet Frame's poems drawn from both An Angel at My Table and The Goose Bath.

New Zealand's preeminent writer brings the skill of an extraordinary novelist and poet to these vivid and haunting recollections.

Set in the picturesque village of Menton, the story follows Harry Gill, a historical fiction writer, as he grapples with the challenges of the Watercress–Armstrong Fellowship. Tasked with writing in a Memorial Room devoid of modern amenities, he discovers that the space holds no true connection to the poet Margaret Rose Hurndell, despite the expectations placed upon him. As he navigates his surroundings and the legacy of Hurndell, Harry confronts the pressures of creativity and the weight of history.

After being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia as a young woman, Janet Frame spent several years in psychiatric institutions. She escaped undergoing a lobotomy when it was discovered that she had just won a national literary prize. She then went on to become New Zealand's most acclaimed writer. As she says more than once in this autobiography: 'My writing saved me.'

Set against the backdrop of 1950s New Zealand, this collection showcases the intimate correspondence between Janet Frame and painter William Theophilus Brown. Their friendship blossomed during a pivotal time in Frame's life, just before her scheduled lobotomy, which was canceled after her literary success. The letters reveal her creativity through character sketches, personal stories, and over 300 doodles. This unique compilation offers a rare glimpse into Frame's thoughts, emotions, and artistic spirit, highlighting her wit and the depth of their bond.

This is a novel of exile and return, which Janet Frame felt too autobiographical to be published in her lifetime. It is an exquisite work shot through with tenderness and Frame's characteristic self-deprecating humour.

'One of the most impressive accounts of madness to be found in literature ... A masterpiece' Anita BrooknerPublished as part of a beautifully designed series to mark the 40th anniversary of the Virago Modern Classics.

A collection of stories appeared in New Zealand in 1951, while the author was confined in a mental hospital.