Allen Curnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allen Curnow
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| Born |
Thomas Allen Monro Curnow
17 June 1911 Timaru, New Zealand
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| Died | 23 September 2001 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Education | Christchurch Boys' High School |
| Alma mater | Canterbury University College Auckland University College |
| Occupation | Journalist, poet |
| Years active | 1929–2001 |
| Employer | Christchurch Sun (1929–1930) St John's Theological College (1931–1933) The Press (1937–1988) The New Zealand Herald (1951–1988) |
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Notable work
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Continuum: New and Later Poems 1972–1988 |
| Spouse(s) | Betty Curnow, Jennifer Tole |
| Awards | See awards. |
Thomas Allen Monro Curnow was a famous New Zealand poet and journalist. He was born on June 17, 1911, and passed away on September 23, 2001. He is known for his amazing poems and his witty newspaper columns.
Contents
Allen Curnow's Early Life
Allen Curnow was born in Timaru, New Zealand. His father was an Anglican clergyman, and Allen grew up in a religious family. His family had roots in Cornwall.
Moving Around New Zealand
As a child, Allen's family moved often. They lived in different places in the Canterbury area. These places included Belfast, Malvern, Lyttelton, and New Brighton.
His Education Journey
Allen went to Christchurch Boys' High School. Later, he studied at Canterbury University and Auckland University.
Starting His Career
After finishing school, Allen worked at the Christchurch Sun newspaper from 1929 to 1930. Then, he moved to Auckland. There, he studied at St John's Theological College from 1931 to 1933. During this time, he also started publishing his first poems. These appeared in University magazines like Kiwi and Phoenix.
Becoming a Journalist and Poet
In 1934, Allen returned to the South Island. He decided not to become an Anglican minister. Instead, he found a job at The Press, a newspaper in Christchurch. He also became good friends with Denis Glover. Allen started contributing some of his poems to the Caxton Press. From 1950 to 1976, he taught English at Auckland University.
Allen Curnow's Family Life
Allen Curnow was married twice. His first marriage was to Elizabeth "Betty" Le Cren. They had a daughter and two sons. One of their sons, Wystan Curnow, also became a poet and art critic in New Zealand. Later, Allen married Jenifer Tole. He was buried at Purewa Cemetery in Auckland.
Allen Curnow's Career as a Writer
Allen Curnow was a very busy writer. He wrote a weekly poetry column for many years.
The Whim Wham Column
From 1937, he wrote a funny, satirical poetry column. It was called Whim Wham. This column appeared in The Press. Later, from 1951, it moved to The New Zealand Herald. He wrote this column until 1988.
In his Whim Wham column, Allen used his sharp wit. He wrote about many world issues. These included topics like the White Australia policy and the Vietnam War. He also wrote about New Zealand politics. He often added funny comments about New Zealand's love for rugby.
His Important Poetic Works
Allen Curnow is most famous as a poet. His book Book of New Zealand Verse (1945) was very important. It helped shape New Zealand literature.
His poems often used Christian ideas and symbols. This was because of his early training for the Anglican ministry. He also wrote about his childhood experiences. These poems often had a hopeful and curious tone.
Curnow also explored the feeling of living in an island country. His poems about the New Zealand landscape are very powerful. They talk about feelings of fear, guilt, and belonging. He helped create an important conversation about New Zealand's environment.
Awards and Recognition
Allen Curnow received many awards for his writing.
- In 1986, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his great work in literature.
- He won the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1989.
- On February 6, 1990, he was chosen for The Order of New Zealand. This is a very high honour.
- He also received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
- Allen won the New Zealand Book Award for Poetry many times. He won in 1958, 1963, 1975, 1980, 1983, 1987, and 2001.
- He won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1988 for his work Continuum.
- In 1992, he received the Cholmondeley Award.
- He was given the A W Reed Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.
Books He Edited
Allen Curnow also helped put together important collections of poems.
- 1945: Book of New Zealand Verse 1923–45, published by Caxton Press
- 1951: Book of New Zealand Verse 1923–50, published by Caxton Press
- 1960: Penguin Book of New Zealand Verse, published by Penguin Books
Documentary About His Life
In 2001, a documentary film was made about Allen Curnow. It was called Early Days Yet. Shirley Horrocks directed it. The film shows Allen talking about his life and poems. It also shows him visiting places that inspired his famous poems.
