New Zealand celebrates literary links with Menton

Locals and visitors to Menton in the south of France enjoyed a week of New Zealand literary and culinary events from 21-26 September thanks to collaboration between the New Zealand Embassy in Paris and the town where Katherine Mansfield resided in 1920-21.

“A desire to mark the 40th anniversary of the NZ Post Mansfield Prize, which has seen acclaimed New Zealand writers visit Menton every year since 1970, has become ‘New Zealand Week’ in Menton,” New Zealand’s Ambassador to France, Sarah Dennis said.

Current Fellow, Jenny Pattrick, was joined by former recipients CK Stead, Vincent O’Sullivan, Fiona Farrell and Stuart Hoar in a series of events, including readings of their works in Menton gardens, one of which featured New Zealand plants. Two films inspired by novels of other former Fellows were shown.

Through a from the New Zealand/France Friendship Fund grant, the France-New Zealand Association held a writing and translation seminar for university students and teachers featuring works by Fellows.

Several events marked Katherine Mansfield’s brief sojourn in Menton:

• A symposium organised by the Katherine Mansfield Society with more than 50 international experts and academics;
• Public seminars on Mansfield’s reputation in France;
• A guided tour by the Menton Heritage Centre retracing Mansfield’s steps, with readings of letters to her husband;
• An exhibition at the municipal library about Mansfield’s time in Menton.

New Zealand food and wine also featured during the week.

Students at the Lycée Paul Valéry hospitality school prepared a Kiwi-inspired lunch with New Zealand lamb prepared under the expert eye of New Zealand chef Rachel Gregan. Award-winning Mentonrestaurant Le Mirazur collaborated with Gregan on a special set menu exclusively featuring New Zealand mussels, lamb, kiwifruit and wine.

For the full programme, see the New Zealand Embassy in France (News)

(The NZ Post Mansfield prize was formerly known as the Katherine Mansfield Fellowship.)