New Zealand Writers

ATKINSON, Coral

A best-selling historical novelist who draws on her Irish heritage.

Atkinson, Coral (1947 – ) is a novelist and short fiction writer.

Coral Atkinson was born in Ireland and immigrated to New Zealand in 1957. She has worked as a secondary school teacher, journalist and as a manager in publishing.

Her first novel, The Love Apple (2005), is a historical novel set at the end of the 19th century which moves between Ireland and New Zealand. The Love Apple quickly became a best-seller. Reviewing the novel in New Zealand Books, Jenny Robin Jones commented that: ‘the author refrains from taking a moral stance while dealing with her characters’ dilemmas regarding love, duty, war. […] She handles 19th century sex well too – it’s modest without being coy, and genuinely erotic.’

A second novel, The Paua Tower, was published in 2006, with Siobhan Harvey commenting in The Dominion Post that: ‘Atkinson’s latest is overflowing with all the attributes necessary for a hit: careful research; a beautifully evoked setting; a host of charismatic characters; rich writing; and a well-paced plot.’

Atkinson says of her writing: ‘I have forged a style in my writing that draws on two traditions – New Zealand and Ireland.’

She has also written a history book for children, Magic Eyes (2006), and was co-author of a non-fiction advice book, Recycled People: Forming New Relationships in Mid-Life (2000). Atkinson won The Press Summer Fiction Award 2005 for her short story, Cheerio!, and has had short fiction published in New Zealand and Ireland.

Atkinson lives in the Banks Penisula, Canterbury.

(KM)

Links:

Random House
Coral Atkinson's website