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Maurice Gough Gee

モーリス・グフ・ギー

Mōrisu Gū Gī

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1931-08-22 （Whakatāne）
Died
2025-06-12 （Nelson, New Zealand） age 93
Nationality
New Zealander
Languages
English
Religion
Evolutionary humanist
Residence History
Whakatāne → Henderson (Auckland) → Nelson

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Children's author, Librarian, Teacher, Television writer
Active Years
1955-2018
Affiliations
Alexander Turnbull Library, Napier library, Auckland libraries
Memberships
New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists (Honorary Associate)
Influenced By
James Chapple (grandfather)
Influenced
Nominations
Esther Glen Award shortlist (The Champion), Montana NZ Book Awards shortlist (Ellie and the Shadow Man), Commonwealth Writers' Prize shortlist (The Scornful Moon)

Education

University of Auckland
Arts
Degree: MA
Year of Graduation: 1954
Country: New Zealand
BA and MA degrees. Distinguished Alumni Award 1998, Honorary Doctorate of Literature 2004
Victoria University of Wellington
Degree: Honorary DLitt
Year of Graduation: 1987
Country: New Zealand
Honorary Doctorate of Literature

Awards

James Tait Black Memorial Prize
1978
Work: Plumb
Category: 小説
Organization: University of Edinburgh
Result: 受賞
New Zealand Book Awards Fiction Prize
1976
Work: A Glorious Morning, Comrade
Category: フィクション
Organization: New Zealand Book Council
Result: 受賞
Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards 1st Prize for Fiction
1979
Work: Plumb
Category: フィクション
Result: 1位
New Zealand Book Awards Fiction Prize
1979
Work: Plumb
Category: フィクション
Result: 受賞
AIM Children's Book Awards Book of the Year
1983
Work: The Halfmen of O
Category: 児童書
Result: 年間最優秀作
Esther Glen Award
1986
Work: Motherstone
Category: ジュニアフィクション
Organization: LIANZA
Result: 受賞
Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards 1st Prize for Fiction
1993
Work: Going West
Category: フィクション
Result: 1位
Esther Glen Award
1995
Work: The Fat Man
Result: 受賞
AIM Children's Book Awards Book of the Year
1995
Work: The Fat Man
Result: 年間最優秀作
Montana New Zealand Book Awards Deutz Medal
1998
Work: Live Bodies
Category: フィクション
Result: 受賞
Margaret Mahy Award
2002
Category: 児童文学貢献
Organization: Storylines Children's Literature Foundation
Result: 受賞
Gaelyn Gordon Award
2004
Work: Under the Mountain
Organization: Storylines
Result: 受賞
Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement
2004
Category: フィクション
Result: 受賞
Montana New Zealand Book Awards Deutz Medal
2006
Work: Blindsight
Category: フィクション
Result: 受賞
New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Young Adult Fiction
2008
Work: Salt
Category: YAフィクション
Result: 受賞
New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults YA Fiction
2017
Work: The Severed Land
Category: YAフィクション
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

In My Father's Den

1972 Mystery

A mystery novel later adapted into a film.

FamilySecretsViolence
Adaptations
  • [Film] In My Father's Den / Brad McGann (2004)

Plumb

1978 Novel

Novel based on grandfather, considered one of NZ's best.

HistoryPoliticsReligionFamily

Under the Mountain

1979 Science fiction children's novel

Twins discover aliens under Lake Pupuke in Auckland.

AdventureAliensSibling bond
Adaptations
  • [TV miniseries] Under the Mountain (1981)
  • [Film] Under the Mountain (2009)
  • [Theatre] Under the Mountain / Sara Brodie (2018)

Bibliography

  • The Big Season (1962)
  • A Special Flower (1965)
  • In My Father's Den (1972)
  • A Glorious Morning, Comrade (1974)
  • Plumb (1978)
  • Under the Mountain (1979)
  • Meg (1981)
  • The Halfmen of O (1982)
  • Sole Survivor (1983)

Adaptations

  • Fracture (2004, based on Crime Story)
  • In My Father's Den (2004)
  • Under the Mountain (2009)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
RealismRich psychological portrayalNZ life depictionsFantasy/SF (children's)
Recurring Motifs
Dysfunctional familiesViolenceNZ suburbsInfluence of history/politics

Legacy

One of New Zealand's most distinguished novelists, authoring over 30 novels for adults and children, winning numerous awards.

Archives

  • Alexander Turnbull Library (Maurice Gee Collection)

In Popular Culture

  • Inspiration for Going West Books & Writers Festival

Trivia

  • Mother was a socialist and aspiring writer.
  • Grandfather was a Presbyterian-turned-Unitarian minister tried for heresy.
  • Former keen rugby player.
  • Lived in Nelson in retirement.