A Literary Satire
ANOTHER "oldie" (1951 vintage, if I mistake not), Edouard Bourdet’s Prize Novel, a 1YA Sunday play, was well worth reviving. This sparkling and incisive satire on the French literary scene and on prize-novel rackets in particular was very good fun. As with all good satire, its main points have a universal rather than a local application, and if, perhaps fortunately, it would be hard to imagine the action taking place in New Zealand, the various literary tvpes themselves, both good and bad, are by no means unfamiliar here. Perhaps the play was a little too long, since the NZBS considers that even Shakespeare isn’t worth’ more than an hour and a half: but the slack was taken up bv an ironically taut ending. Prize Novel was also interesting for a very pleasing performance by Frederick Farley. as an embarrassed prize-winner. When Mr. Farley was in New Zealand, his voice was one of the most familiar on the air, yet until I heard this play I had forgotten how good he could occasion-. ally be-which bears out Gilbert Harding’s contention that "nothing is more fleating than the inflated reputations of
radio:
J. C.
R.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19541015.2.19.4
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 795, 15 October 1954, Page 11
Word count
Tapeke kupu
196A Literary Satire New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 795, 15 October 1954, Page 11
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in