Montague Harry "Monte" Holcroft (14 May 1902 – 24 September 1993) was a
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
essayist
An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal a ...
and
novelist
A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...
.
His 18½ years editing the
New Zealand Listener
The ''New Zealand Listener'' is a weekly New Zealand magazine that covers the political, cultural and literary life of New Zealand by featuring a variety of topics, including current events, politics, social issues, health, technology, arts, f ...
"confirmed the ''Listener'' as a unique institution at the centre of New Zealand's cultural life".
Early life and family
Holcroft was the second of three sons, born in
Rangiora
Rangiora is the largest town and seat of the Waimakariri District, in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is north of Christchurch, and is part of the Christchurch metropolitan area. With an estimated population of Rangiora is the 30th largest urba ...
on 14 May 1902 to Harry Cooper Holcroft and Harriet Emily Soanes. He was married three times and had three children, Allan Holcroft (deceased) from his first marriage and is survived by two children from his second marriage, Anthony Holcroft and Jocelyn Rimmington.
Life
In 1936, Holcroft began writing for the ''Southland Times'' and became its editor. In 1949, Holcroft was offered the editorship of the ''
New Zealand Listener
The ''New Zealand Listener'' is a weekly New Zealand magazine that covers the political, cultural and literary life of New Zealand by featuring a variety of topics, including current events, politics, social issues, health, technology, arts, f ...
'' in Wellington. He took up the appointment in June 1949. He became the longest-serving editor of the ''
New Zealand Listener
The ''New Zealand Listener'' is a weekly New Zealand magazine that covers the political, cultural and literary life of New Zealand by featuring a variety of topics, including current events, politics, social issues, health, technology, arts, f ...
''.
He helped found the New Zealand branch of
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
.
Honours and awards
In 1947, Holcroft received the Hubert Church Award. In the
1970 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 1970 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced in supplements to the '' Lo ...
, he was appointed an
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
, for services to journalism.
Works
Novels
*''Beyond the Breakers'', John Long, 1928
*''The Flameless Fire'', John Long, 1931
*''Brazilian Daughter'' John Long, 1931
Essays
*
*
*
*
*''The Deepening Stream: Cultural Influences in New Zealand'' (1940)
Memoir
*
*
History
*
Anthology
*''Discovered Isles: a Trilogy : The Deepening Stream, The Waiting Hills, Encircling Seas.'' Christchurch: Caxton Press, 1950. Voyager link
*''Timeless World : a Collection of Essays'', Wellington: Progressive Publishing Society, 1945. Voyager link NZ Listener 323.13 Aug (1945): 12-13.
References
External links
"M.H. Holcroft", ''Literary Encyclopedia''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holcroft, M. H.
New Zealand essayists
Male essayists
1902 births
1993 deaths
People from Rangiora
People from Paekākāriki
New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire
20th-century essayists