What You Made of It: A Memoir, 1987-2020

Stead establishes his international reputation as a novelist, poet, and critic during this period, and his fearless lucidity on literary and political matters embroil him in argument. "What You Made of It" takes us deep inside the mind and experience of one of New Zealand's major writers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2021
Publisher: Auckland University Press

After leaving the university to pursue a full-time writing career at the end of volume two, Stead immerses himself wholeheartedly in his work. In a series of novels such as Sister Hollywood and My Name Was Judas, he garners critical acclaim from esteemed publications like the London Review of Books and the Financial Times. His literary prowess extends to poetry and memoir, solidifying his international reputation as a novelist, poet, and critic. During this period, Stead's bold and lucid insights into literary and political matters often lead to heated debates, spanning from The Bone People to the interpretation of treaties to controversies surrounding a London writer's flat.

"What You Made of It" delves into the mind and experiences of Allen Curnow's designated critic across the Crescent, or alternatively, the label of "the Tonya Harding of NZ Lit." Spanning Stead's travels from Los Angeles to Liguria, Croatia, Crete, Caracas, and Colombia, as New Zealand poet laureate and Kohi swimmer, this book offers a profound exploration of one of New Zealand's major writers through Stead's renowned lucid storytelling prose.

Through his travels and literary endeavors, Stead establishes himself as a versatile and influential figure in the world of literature. His contributions not only span genres but also leave a lasting impact on the literary landscape, earning him recognition and admiration worldwide.

Weight: 702g
Dimension: 220 x 151 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781869409463