Peter Wells, author of the widely praised biography of Colenso, 'The Hungry Heart', used his blog to talk through his writing and research methods while writing the book. In this way readers of his blog shared the experience - both the sudden joys of finding an illuminating fact, or the longeurs when he seemed not to be making headway or even lost his way.He is now starting out on his next quest, looking at the defence of Te Rau Kereopa, called Kaiwhatu 'The Eye Eater'. Te Rau Kereopa was the Hau Hau prophet warrior who ate the eyes of the Rev Carl Volkner in 1865, thus becoming an object of media hysteria in the 1860s Pakeha world. Two dissidents chose to stand by his side, offering insight and support. These were two remarkable early Pakeha New Zealanders - the French-born nun Sister Mary Aubert and the Cornish-born William Colenso.
Wells was awarded the Michael King Fellowship in 2011 to write a book on the subject. The book is titled 'Sparrow on a Rooftop'.
Readers can follow the journey of his search on http://www.peterwellsblog.com/
(The gates to Napier's historic Prison)
Peter Wells, author of the widely praised biography of Colenso, 'The Hungry Heart', used his blog to talk through his writing and research methods while writing the book. In this way readers of his blog shared the experience - both the sudden joys of finding an illuminating fact, or the longeurs when he seemed not to be making headway or even lost his way.
He is now starting out on his next quest, looking at the defence of Te Rau Kereopa, called Kaiwhatu 'The Eye Eater'. Te Rau Kereopa was the Hau Hau prophet warrior who ate the eyes of the Rev Carl Volkner in 1865, thus becoming an object of media hysteria in the 1860s Pakeha world. Two dissidents chose to stand by his side, offering insight and support. These were two remarkable early Pakeha New Zealanders - the French-born nun Sister Mary Aubert and the Cornish-born William Colenso.
Wells was awarded the Michael King Fellowship in 2011 to write a book on the subject. The book is titled 'Sparrow on a Rooftop'.
Readers can follow the journey of his search on http://www.peterwellsblog.com/