DrSimpson is the author of six non-fiction books, including Fantastica: The World of Leo Bensemann (Auckland University Press, 2011); Patron and Painter: Charles Brasch and Colin McCahon (Hocken Collections, 2010); Colin McCahon: The Titirangi Years 1953-1959 (AUP, 2007) and Answering Hark: McCahon/Caselberg: Painter/Poet (Craig Potton, 2001). He has edited, or contributed to, many other titles, including books on Allen Curnow, Kendrick Smithyman, Ronald Hugh Morrieson, Charles Spear and Peter Peryer.During his fellowship, Dr Simpson will work on a new project exploring the rich and fertile artistic scene in Christchurch from 1933 to 1953, with the working title Bloomsbury South.
“I am delighted to be offered this generous fellowship, which will enable me to undertake a project I’ve thought about for years,“ Dr Simpson says. “The new book will be a cross-disciplinary study of the network of relationships between poets, painters, musicians, playwrights and publishers that created a vital phase of our cultural history.”
Dr Simpson is also co-founder and part-time director of the Holloway Press, which publishes limited edition books of scholarly or artistic merit. He is a former Head of English at the University of Auckland.
The Michael King Writer’s Fellowship is open to established writers of any literary genre who have already published a significant body of work. Valued at $100,000, it is awarded annually for a project that will take two or more years to complete.