John Summers (3) (1916–1993)
Author of Dreamscape. 1
For other authors named John Summers, see the disambiguation page.
Works by John Summers
Strictly for the words 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Summers, John Arthur Campbell
- Birthdate
- 1916-12-29
- Date of death
- 1993-12
- Gender
- male
- Occupations
- bookseller
poet
memoirist
novelist
art critic - Organizations
- Christchurch Star
- Short biography
- [from National Library of New Zealand website]
Author and bookseller; ran John Summers Bookshop in Christchurch for 25 years prior to its closure, on his retirement, in 1983. Born Westcliff-on-Sea, England; emigrated to New Zealand with parents aged 3 years. After his education, he worked briefly as a labourer, then became a door-to-door salesman selling books; he joined Whitcombe and Tombs in 1948 selling theological books for 10 years; he then set up on his own in the booktrade, with help from his wife Connie (Constance May (née Jones)); also art critic for the Christchurch Star for several years; wrote and published his own poetry, a novel and two volumes of memoirs. His son Lew (Llewellyn Mark, 1947-) Summers is a Christchurch sculptor. [Press obit. 14 Dec 1993] - Birthplace
- Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK
- Places of residence
- New Zealand
- Place of death
- New Zealand
- Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
O Darkly Bright is well worth a read however for me I could only digest it by reading a chapter at a time and was spell bound with each of them.
The main character, Doctor Barra has retired to his hometown of Kumati Beach and the reader becomes an observer of the doctors’ memories, his attitudes and of course his regrets. We are reminded throughout the work that he wears a grey half-length coat and of course being a retired surgeon - his gloves.
There aren't many characters in this work show more but each of his friendships is a decision forged for reasons that have taken place in earlier periods of his life with the exception of his friendship with an old archdeacon whom he never understood what drew the two of them together. Near the end of his life, Doctor Barra reconciles himself with the church with a very surprising result.
Like most of John Summers works of fiction this book is partly based on Orepuki (a tiny town) in Southland, New Zealand. And if you know this part of New Zealand in your minds’ eye you’ll enjoy the descriptions of the Beach, the Longwoods, Monkey Island, Ruahine, Riverton etc. show less
The main character, Doctor Barra has retired to his hometown of Kumati Beach and the reader becomes an observer of the doctors’ memories, his attitudes and of course his regrets. We are reminded throughout the work that he wears a grey half-length coat and of course being a retired surgeon - his gloves.
There aren't many characters in this work show more but each of his friendships is a decision forged for reasons that have taken place in earlier periods of his life with the exception of his friendship with an old archdeacon whom he never understood what drew the two of them together. Near the end of his life, Doctor Barra reconciles himself with the church with a very surprising result.
Like most of John Summers works of fiction this book is partly based on Orepuki (a tiny town) in Southland, New Zealand. And if you know this part of New Zealand in your minds’ eye you’ll enjoy the descriptions of the Beach, the Longwoods, Monkey Island, Ruahine, Riverton etc. show less
Statistics
- Works
- 5
- Members
- 8
- Popularity
- #1,038,910
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 1
- ISBNs
- 29