Thomas Bracken, 1843–1898
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26686/knznq.v7i3.700Abstract
Thomas Bracken was New Zealand’s most famous and well-loved poet of the nineteenth century. He was considered by many to be New Zealand’s national poet, and he has an enduring place in New Zealand’s literary history because he wrote the words to the national hymn ‘God Defend New Zealand’. He was considered to be New Zealand’s Tennyson, and he encouraged the comparison himself. Although his poetry is sentimental and possesses too strong a focus on England for modern readers, it exhibits Bracken’s love for his country, and provides a fine example of popular Victorian sentiment.
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A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, volume 1. Ed. G. H. Scholefield. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand, 1940, pp. 84-87.
Broughton, W. S. ‘Bracken, Thomas 1843-1898’. The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, volume 2 1870-1900. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and the Department of Internal Affairs, 1993, pp. 52-53.
Broughton, W.S. ‘Bracken, Thomas 1843-98’. The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature. Eds. Roger Robinson and Nelson Wattie. Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 66-67, 207, 410, 390.
Curnow, Allen. Look Back Harder: Critical Writings 1935-84. Ed. Peter Simpson. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 1987, pp. 138-141.
Dunmore, John, ed. Ballads of Thomas Bracken. Palmerston North: The Dunmore Press, 1975, pp. 7-8.
Hall, David Oswald William. ‘Bracken, Thomas 1843-98’. In An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand volume. 1. Ed. A. H. McLintock. Wellington: R. E. Owen, Government Printer, 1966.
Jackson, MacDonald P. and Elizabeth Caffin. ‘Poetry’. In The Oxford History of New Zealand Literature in English 2nd ed. Ed. Terry Sturm. Auckland, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 394 – 524.
‘Presentation to Mr Thomas Bracken’, Otago Daily Times, 14 August, 1884.
‘Thomas Bracken – New Zealand Bard’. New Zealand’s Heritage volume 4. Ed. Ray Knox. Wellington, Paul Hamlyn Ltd. in association with Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd., 1971-1973, pp. 1332-1335.
Tom Bracken File: Booklets, cuttings and letters. Collected by Pat Lawlor. Hocken Library, Dunedin.
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