Wild Cards: Eccentric Characters from New Zealand's Past

Author(s): John Dunmore

NZ Biography & Memoirs | Secondhand

Over the years, New Zealand has produced a remarkable array of eccentrics and odd characters. They range from ship jumpers and gold prospectors to swagmen, hermits, confidence tricksters, politicians, writers and dreamers of all types, not forgetting the society lady who turned brothel keeper. This collection of 26 short biographies, accompanied by contemporary illustrations and photographs, brings many of these characters to life, and not only makes lively reading but also helps to remind us of the richness and variety of New Zealand life.


Product Information

Knight of the southern seas, Peter Dillon -- The Scottish Moses, Norman McLeod -- The sovereign chief, Charles de Thierry -- Biddy of the Buller, Bridget Goodwin -- The resilient superintendent, James Macandrew -- The storyteller, Jackson Barry -- The theatrical pirate, Bully Hayes -- The balladeer of the goldfields, Charles Thatcher -- Captain America, George Moonlight -- The Dunedin gadfly, James Grant -- The sheep stealer, James Mackenzie -- The lord in his castle, William Larnach -- The turncoat, Kimble Bent -- Hermits in the bush, Donald Sutherland, Maori Bill and Jules Berg -- The nomads, Ned Slattery and Russian Jack -- The light-fingered governess, Amy Bock -- The red professor, Alexander Bickerton -- The god Osiris, Arthur Worthington -- The defender of racial purity, Lionel Terry -- The banker's daughter, Katherine Mansfield -- Lovers in exile, Henry and Annie Chaffey -- The king of Poland, Geoffrey de Montalk -- The lone politician, John A. Lee -- The lady and the brothel, Flora MacKenzie -- Poet on the margin, Rex Fairburn -- Mabel of Sydenham, Mabel Howard.

General Fields

  • : 9781869661328
  • : New Holland Publishers (Nz) Ltd
  • : New Holland Publishers (Nz) Ltd
  • : November 2023
  • : 230x170mm
  • : New Zealand
  • : September 2023
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : John Dunmore
  • : Paperback
  • : 993.0099
  • : 176pp
  • : illustrations and photographs