Give Your Thoughts Life: William Colenso’s letters to the editor
Author(s): Ian St George (editor)
‘ … you have the Press, both open and free: use it. Give your thoughts life; let all good measures be brought forward, discussed, and well ventilated.’ – William Colenso, writing to the Hawkes Bay Herald in 1859 The provincial newspaper columns were the ‘public spheres’ of their time, places for geographically separated individuals to contribute opinions to the debates of an immature democracy. But equally they were the vehicles for the passionately held views of bigots egged on by unscrupulous editors eager for exciting copy. These letters from Colenso, and their replies, show colonial politics to be argumentative, fervent and nasty – and the rants of opinionated, self-styled experts are thrilling in their vehemence.
Product Information
Ian St George is a Wellington general practitioner. He came to Colenso studies through his interest in native orchids. He is editor of Colenso's Collections (2008) and eColenso, the newsletter of the Colenso Society.
Introduction; Letters 1847-1859; Letters 1860-1869; Letters 1870-1879; Letters 1880-1889; Letters 1890-1898; The Final Chapter; Index of Letters.
General Fields
- :
- : Otago University Press
- : Otago University Press
- : 0.822
- : 01 October 2011
- : 230x155mm
- : New Zealand
- : books
Special Fields
- : Ian St George (editor)
- : Paperback
- : 1
- : 323.44
- : Very Good
- : 497
