NEW ZEALAND NOVELIST

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NOVELIST

■nHTUEM C;F G. B. LANCASTER “My impression is that the .United States are becoming very interested in Australia and New Zealand and are really desirous of getting in touch with tho people in these countries. They seem to be much keener in this respect than the people of England.” This view was expressed at Auckland by Mias Edith Lyttelton, who is known to a very wide public as G. B. Lancaster, tlio novelist. Miss Lyttelton is a Now Zealand girl, having been born at Rakaia,.''in Canterbury. She has been abroad for some years, and has attained prominence in literary circles. Her first book, ‘ Sons o’ Men,’ created something of a sensation by its virility and style, and it was at first difficult to believe that it could be the work of a young and unknown girl. In 1908 Miss Lyttelton went to’ England with the members ot her family, and saw something of Canada en route. She later returned to that country and made good uso of the material which she was able to gather. In recent years sho has devoted much of her time to the writing of magazine stories for publications in England, the United States, and Canada. A notable novel from her pen is ‘The Fool Divine.’

Miss Lyttelton has been asked by some American magazines to write a senes of stones about country life in New Zealand, and will remain in the dominion for some months. Alter remarking on tho interest displayed by Americans in Now Zealand, Miss Lyttelton said tho American rnarket_ was very attractive to writers. Her opinion was that tho trend in America was away from the sex novel. She qualified that view by saying she had not been in the United States for some years, but sho was in touch with writers, and learned that tho present-day demand was for tho sentimental story with a homo interest.

“After being away for so long I had gained the impression that New Zealand must bo very much like Canada, but after coming back 1 am convinced New Zealand is not like any other place. It is very beautiful and has a charm quite its own.” Miss Lyttelton said.