1. Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) The most innovative writer of the post- modern era. By: Andrea Rodican

2. Childhood Born in New Zealand as Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp Her family had vigorous social ambitions Her mother was delicate and aloof Her father a canny and successful businessman Age 11: sent to a college for the liberal education of women –Returned with a great sense of unrest

3. Information about Katherine’s Adult Life Moved to London in 1908 to “study music” Lived a “wild life” in London Spend time with other famous contemporary authors –D.H. Lawence, Virginia Woolfe Married John Middleton (Murry) Associated with many eccentrics and rebels of her day Brother died in Belgium in October 1915 She died in France on 9 January 1923 at age 36

4. Her Accomplishments include Wrote many satirical essays that made fun of anyone worthy Her letters are as good as her fiction –express insight about sentiment of the time –the war is in all of us Published two collections of short stories –Bliss and Other Stories and The Garden Party and Other Stories (a few months after her death) Weekly reviews for magazine The Athenaeum Translated Chekhov’s letters

5. Katherine Mansfield achieved her position as one of the most innovative writers of the twentieth century because she: Was a rebel Did not accept the status quo Fought against restraints placed on women of her day Experimented with new story form –“The language of twentieth century art”

6. Her stories : touch me on many different levels lend themselves to endless analysis make me want to become a writer and do amazing things keep me company when I’m alone

7. The Mark of an Innovative Person Originality Remarkable insight into the human psyche Genius

8. War Katherine focused a lot of her writing on dealing with the trauma that remained in postwar Europe. World War I was the first war that employed the use of automatic weapons The result was death on a massive level that left all Europeans traumatized Katherine Mansfield would be very concerned with the threat of war in Iraq because: she survived the horrors of WWI she lost her brother in that War

9. Q/A Time A: Paying attention to the most minute details of my life because subtlety is incredibly relevant often missed! Q: What is your inspiration? Q: Was it hard for you to disobey the wishes of your family to follow your dreams? A: Of course. I love my family very much, but they didn’t understand that a husband and children would not be enough to satisfy me.

10. Too Eccentric for Me I could not be her friend because she: –Was experimental –Ran with a arrogant group of “smarties” –Shattered societies norms

11. Works Cited Vincent O'Sullivan. “Mansfield, Katherine.” New Zealand Book Council. 22 Oct. 2002. http://www2.vuw.ac.nz/nzbookcouncil/writ ers/mansfieldk.htm#recent