Notes
2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of legendary New Zealander Barry Crump's first and most-loved novel, A GOOD KEEN MAN. Born in Auckland in 1935, Crump worked for many years as a government deer-culler in areas of New Zealand's native forest and A GOOD KEEN MAN was the result of his collected experiences. This novel became one of the most popular in New Zealand history and Crump's success continued with the fictional Hang on a Minute Mate (1961), One of Us (1962), There and Back (1963), Gulf (1964), A Good Keen Girl (1970), Bastards I Have Met (1971) and others, which capitalised on the appeal of his good-natured itinerant self sufficient characters and idiomatic 'blokey' writing style.
