— return to list

Heaphy: Artist, Explorer, Settler

Sharp, Iain

Charles Heaphy's art is a remarkable visual diary of life in settler New Zealand from 1839 to 1879. The book is illustrated with Heaphy's paintings and drawings as well as photographs and maps from the period. The paintings range from his earliest watercolour of birdlife in the Marlborough Sounds, to his last known sketch, drawn on the back of an envelope, showing a Maori witness at a Native Land Court hearing. Sharp tells the story of Heaphy's art and also depicts a man who, while at times mercenary and self-serving, made a significant contribution to the European settlement of New Zealand as a draughtsman, explorer, surveyor, gold agent, geologist, soldier, Victoria Cross winning soldier, politician land commissioner and judge. Profusely illustrated with paintings, drawings, maps and photographs.

Finalist in the 2009 Montana New Zealand Book Awards, Biography category.

Contents: Table of Contents. Acknowledgements. Introduction: Reading the Face. Chapter 1: Young Charles (1820-1839) Family background; artistic training; work with the London and Birmingham Railway company. Chapter 2: Company Man (1869-1842) Career with the New Zealand Company, (exceptionally busy and resulting in many paintings). Chapter 3: The Explorer (1843-1848). Chapter 4: Auckland Years (1848-1863) Surveyor; marriage; work as a gold commissioner; collaboration with von Hoschstetter. Chapter 5: “The Gallant Major” (1863-1867) Waikato War; winning the VC; involvement in surveying land confiscated from indigenous Maori in the years immediately following the war. Chapter 6: The Adjudicator (1867-1881) Parliamentary career; final years; and death. Sources and Further Reading. Index.

PO BOX 17-244, WELLINGTON 6147, NEW ZEALAND.
TEL: +64-4-475 3327, info@nzbooksabroad.com, FAX: +64-4-475 4040.