Nor the Years Condemn

Overview

This beautifully presented new edition of Nor the Years Condemn brings Robin Hyde’s important novel back into print.First published in 1938, Nor the Years Condemn explores the experiences of returned servicemen and women in the aftermath of World War I. Through the story of Douglas Stark, Hyde vividly portrays the disappointment and disillusionment of veterans who return to a New Zealand that falls short of the ideals they fought for. Far from the promised ‘land fit for heroes’, the nation grapples with the social upheaval and economic hardship of the 1920s and 1930s. Hyde’s novel poignantly captures the emotional and societal challenges faced by those trying to rebuild their lives in a world that no longer seems to recognise their sacrifice.With cover art by Gretchen Albrecht and a preface by Genevieve Scanlan, this edition invites readers to revisit—or discover for the first time—a classic from one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most cherished literary voices.

Author Biography

Robin Hyde, born Iris Wilkinson in Cape Town in 1906, was raised in Wellington, New Zealand. A journalist from the age of 17, she published her first poetry collection in 1929. Between 1935 and 1938, she wrote five novels, including Wednesday’s Children (1937) and Nor the Years Condemn (1938). Hyde/Wilkinson left New Zealand in 1938, visiting Hong Kong and China before travelling to England, where she died in 1939.