James Courage

Novelist, short-story writer, poet, bookseller

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] Novels, Short Stories, Plays

Early life and education

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]

Career

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]

Works

Novels^[1]

One House (1933)
The Fifth child (1948)
Desire without content (1950)
Fires in the distance (1952)
The young have secrets (1954)
The call home (1956)
A way of Love (1959)
The visit to Penmorten (1961)

Short Stories^[1]

Uncle Adam Shot a Stag (1945)

Plays^[1]

Private History (1938)

Personal life

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]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Harris, Grant. "James Francis Courage". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
^ "The Writings of James Courage :: Chris Brickell". www.brickell.co.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ ^a ^b Steer, Philip (6 July 2008). "James Courage, 1903–1963". Kōtare: New Zealand Notes & Queries. 7 (2).
^ McLintock, A.H. (1966). "Prizes Offered by Literary or Other Societies". Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ "Courage Day 15th November – what's it all about?". www.scoop.co.nz. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ Brickell, Chris (31 August 2020). "James Courage Diaries". Otago University Press. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ ^a ^b Stead, Karl (24 August 2021). "A tortured dandy in nice slippers: CK Stead on James Courage". Newsroom. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ Philip Matthews, 'Rediscovering Courage: A Canterbury writer has his moment', Stuff, 4 September 2021 [1]
^ Parker, Peter (6 January 2022). "A reappraisal of James Courage". The Spectator. Retrieved 14 April 2024.