Dunedin City of Literature

Case 4 - James K. Baxter

James K. Baxter. <em>Blow, wind of fruitfulness.</em> Christchurch: Caxton Press, 1948.

James K. Baxter. Blow, wind of fruitfulness. Christchurch: Caxton Press, 1948.

James Keir Baxter was born in Dunedin in 1926, the son of eminent pacifists Archibald and Millicent Baxter. He grew up in Kuri Bush and Brighton along Dunedin’s south coast. He attended King’s High School and the University of Otago, which he left after one year’s study in 1944. By this time he had already published his first collection of verse, Beyond the palisade, to critical acclaim. Baxter’s second published volume of poetry Blow, wind of fruitfulness (1948) confirmed Baxter as the pre-eminent New Zealand poet of his generation. It contains the memorable short poem ‘High country weather.’

James K. Baxter. <em>Blow, wind of fruitfulness.</em> Christchurch: Caxton Press, 1948.

James K. Baxter. Blow, wind of fruitfulness. Christchurch: Caxton Press, 1948.
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James K. Baxter. <em>In fires of no return: poems.</em> London: Oxford University Press, 1958.

James K. Baxter. In fires of no return: poems. London: Oxford University Press, 1958.

In 1958, James K. Baxter achieved international recognition when Oxford University Press published In fires of no return. This collection features the poem ‘Tunnel beach.’

James K. Baxter. <em>In fires of no return: poems.</em> London: Oxford University Press, 1958.

James K. Baxter. In fires of no return: poems. London: Oxford University Press, 1958.
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James K. Baxter. <em>Howrah Bridge and other poems.</em> London: Oxford University Press, 1961.

James K. Baxter. Howrah Bridge and other poems. London: Oxford University Press, 1961.

Howrah Bridge (1961) reflects Baxter’s sense of displacement after a period studying educational publishing in India, where he was overwhelmed by the poverty.

James K. Baxter. <em>Howrah Bridge and other poems.</em> London: Oxford University Press, 1961.

James K. Baxter. Howrah Bridge and other poems. London: Oxford University Press, 1961.
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