Description
Return to Open Country (1967) by Jim Henderson is a celebration of mid-20th-century New Zealand rural life, capturing the unique voice, humour, and hardships of the Kiwi backcountry.
The book serves as a print anthology of Henderson’s incredibly popular, long-running New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) radio programme, Open Country. Rather than a single narrative, the synopsis of the book reflects a curated mosaic of authentic rural storytelling:
Core Elements & Content
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- The Voice of the “Backblocks”: The book is a compilation of transcripts, letters, and spoken-word stories contributed by everyday people living in the remote corners of New Zealand. It gives a direct voice to high-country musterers, shearers, gold miners, drovers, bushmen, and country wives.
- Fireside Yarns and Tall Tales: The heart of the book lies in its rich oral tradition. It features humorous “yarns,” eccentric character sketches, and legendary local folklore that defined the social fabric of rural communities before the widespread advent of modern technology.
- The Reality of Pastoral Life: While deeply affectionate and nostalgic, the anthology does not entirely romanticise the land. It documents the raw isolation, unpredictable weather, economic struggles, and immense physical grit required to survive and farm in the rugged New Zealand wilderness.
- Preserving a Vanishing Identity: Compiled during a time when New Zealand was rapidly modernising and urbanising, Henderson uses the text as a historical time capsule to preserve a distinct “pioneer” identity and a slower, community-reliant way of life.
Key Takeaway
Ultimately, Return to Open Country is a warm, deeply humanistic social history. It serves as a tribute to the resilience, resourcefulness, and distinct dry wit of the men and women who shaped New Zealand’s rural heritage.
Hardcover. First Edition. 250 Pages. Good Condition. Damaged Dust Cover and former owners name on the first page.
